Maggi

Bonniebroad, we just watched the film on DVD last night and those were my feelings exactly. And when exactly did it become acceptable to show full frontal male nudity? I must be so out of step with the rest of the world, when movies like Closer and Sideways are acclaimed and I didn't enjoy either one.

My husband did fall in love with the theme song from Closer by Damien Rice, "The Blower's Daughter". Just got him the CD for his birthday. It's the one that repeats over and over "Cant take my eyes off of you."

Deletter

They've been showing female nudity for years, why not some male nudity? What's wrong with a little nudity on screen? As someone pointed out, the film is rated R. Sometimes I wish our attitudes in this country could be slightly more European.

Somehow, I think all these older relatives know a little something about sex. It's just that it can be uncomfortable to watch this stuff with your parents. Heck, when I was about 12, I went with my older brother to a couple of movies that I was embarrassed to be watching in his presence. (I'm quite certain I shouldn't have been at one of them, but the other was a relatively tame movie about teen love.)

As for "Sideways" being overrated, I know what you mean, although it was my favorite movie of last year. Why? Well, "Sideways" was darn funny and also an excellent look at
what 40 can be, but also, the other movies of 2004 were pretty rank. People cheered to finally see a good movie, the little one that was so much better than "I Heart Huckabees" and "The Life Aquatic."

Paul Giammatti was also in an often overlooked movie that was clearly the best of 2003, "American Splendor." A great, original and funny (mostly) film. It's a good pick for a rental if you haven't seen it.

Patrick

Oscars rarely go to actors playing "real" people. In other words, Oscar contending roles tend to be drug addicts, terminal illness patients, people with severe mental problems, those overcome by adverse conditions. The same with Oscar movies -- they have to be "bigger than life". Sideways was unique because it was about totally real "normal" or "average" people -- yes those exact people do exist and there are a lot of them -- and that made it unique in my opinion. I believed every minute of it, right down to the details of the set decorating on those horrible houses. While I enjoyed movies like Aviator and Million Dollar Baby, I didn't "believe" much of either one. I did believe every minute of Sideways.

moneygirl

Because Sideways was filmed in the Santa Maria Valley the wineries, roads and restaurants... even some of the people in the movie are very familiar and this movie has been talked about long before it started showing in this area. That being said,my expectations were not met. However, it has been great for area businessesand for that I am thankful!

Dreamer2

I thought the acting was superb, but I did not like the movie. What a bunch of lost, miserable losers. Just a little too much reality in this show for me, and I hate stories of ugly meaness to others.

Bonnie, I can imagine that you felt uncomfortable with the relatives. My 16 year old daughter did not want to see it with me because she knew she'd feel uncomfortable during the scenes we'd heard about.

I think the whole rating system is messed up. Things like Billy Eliott, Captain C's Mandolin, and Gosford Park are rated "R," while these teen shows that feature gratuitous sex scenes, bad language, drug use, dreadful character and treatment of others are "PG-13!"

JJ5

Totally agree with Budman.

My biggest surprise was that my daughter and her husband felt the same exact way as well and they are young 30's. They went on a special night out- and saw this after a nice dinner while the kids were with me. They were both bummed. Were expecting more after the hub-bub. My son-in-law said he wanted to see something witty, funny and ended up seeing a movie about a loser. Said he saw enough of those at work.

Especially if you see a lot of European films, even with sub-titles, IMHO- the American film has hit an all time low in the last 5 years. And I did like Pulp Fiction, because it seemed true to the agenda it depicted, and the characterizations were done well. I miss movies about people who are like the people I have known in my life, and that is a large number working in the fields I have- and from every level of society living in a big USA city. I just don't see them. Most American movies are filled with one dimensional characters living with no moral values and searching for the "me" or something else to fulfill them. Not the people I meet every day.

I've found that my students want silly, horror, action or very simplistic on the whole. By the way, we all sort of liked Dodge Ball. Not a great movie and just is what it is, no pretensions. And some American movies are done well in those gendres. But the very classic and deep characterizations seem missing from the majority of American modern era films. Always exceptions, of course, but very few.

There are some very good new European out recently, especially French and Italian. I've found I might really "know" those characters, much more than USA films.Also the language sounds etc. help me to be more conversant when I travel. You can pick up some vocabulary just watching foreign films.

mikemo

We're in our 60's (one beyond medicare age) and were not the least bit concerned with the language or content.
We split a bottle of '01 Antinori Toscana with dinner prior to the show and enjoyed the evening.
M

JJ5

And since someone else brought up the rating system etc. while I posted- just my 2 cents. We have never gone by this system. I or anyone else who cares about what their kids see just doesn't. It's flawed, greatly. And my kids/grandkids don't see as many movies as the average USA kid sees. There just isn't enough value in them to spare the time, for one thing.

We don't watch much tv, and our kids watch even less. They are just too busy doing. Sports, Scouts, doing meals for C. Charity, swimming, skating, 4-wheeling, horse (boy does this take up the time- talk about a responsibility "teacher")and they have so much parent/kid time doing all this that there is no time to be sitting around watching tv. Kids need to feel secure, move, do good, and learn kindness in all of the above. Today's movies doing foster any of that.

One time, I must say, there was an exception. After seeing Pochahantas, my then 7 year old granddaughter had a very "deep" talk with me. If you can see movies or read stories that bring out this feelings. THEN, they are worth the time. Teachers can often tell you which ones they are. Ask.

She said, "Oh Grandma, she had to pick between her love, and her family- how could she do it?" And then we talked- actually SHE talked and I listened.

Cassandra

"Sideways" -- annoyed me. Vapid, self-indulgent -- "losers" indeed. And yet those who made the film clearly were fond of these losers and seemed to think there's something kind of adorable about them and their adolescent, pretentious and/or irresponsible ways..... and something downright sacred about wine.

(And IMO, the "other" wine country in California is prettier.)

annetti

Coincidently, I saw Sideways on DVD last night. I loved it and did not notice or get upset by the nudity, profanity, or subject matter. I liked the fact that the people seemed real. In fact, I did not think about it being objectionable, though after reading the comments above, I realized that my parents (both deceased) would have had trouble understanding or accepting the characters. I prefer this kind of movie to the usual violent/ action fare usually offered.

JohnInMiami

Go rent "Bad Santa." Once you pick yourself up off the floor from the shock, you'll be amazed that it's really a touching film.

Little_Man

Thumbs up from me! I thought Thomas Hayden Church (sp?) got robbed. He was incredibly good; all the actors were just excellent!

The nudity/profanity didn't bother me, but then again, I wasn't wathcing it with my Dad or kids, and Probably would've been very uncomfortable if I had been.

walkinaround

sometimes i feel like i'm living in a hole. i hadn't even heard of the movie when i saw it on a flight (non-american airline so nothing was cut out). i thought it was "cute" and it kept me entertained (it was a 13 hour flight so it didnt take much). i couldn't believe when, presumably around oscar time, i started to hear the buzz about it and how it is some sort of artsy movie. i couldn't believe what i was hearing. like i said, cute and entertaining enough but intellectual and artsy???

Patrick

Cassandra, I'm curious why you feel it was obvious "those who made the film clearly were fond of these losers and seemed to think there's something kind of adorable about them and their adolescent, pretentious and/or irresponsible ways....."

I thought it was made very clear they were losers -- and things like the doing drugs with the child in the next room, what made you think they were "glorifying" that. I thought they did a great job of depicting these people -- losers that they were -- without trying to make them adorable. Are you saying you found them adorable? Most people I know didn't, and that only came about because the "people who made the film" did a great job of realistically portraying their dark sides. And surely you must have realized that they were making fun of the guy for his "sacred obsession" with wine.

Scarlett

Arrogant and self-righteous? Pretty soon Patrick will be accused of belonging to a high school clique!

I always thought that the Sideways boys were supposed to look like losers, and that whole Wine Adoration bit was a spoof on those who behave that way..
We all see films through such different ways of thinking, but I hardly think insulting other people for their views makes a persons opinion more valuable.

leelane911

That is right, Scarlett. Patrick should not insult Cassandra because she does not see things his way. He could disagree or question just a little bit more nicely, in my opinion.

Scarlett

I did not see where Patrick insulted anyone, even someone looking for insult.
In my own opinion.

Marilyn

I liked the film a lot. IMO, it's rather more complex than what is being said here (which is one quality that makes it an interesting film).

The guys have their faults, but they have their virtues as well, not the least of which is their friendship. Are they immature? Yes. But they both grow up a little bit through the experiences depicted in the film, painful, humiliating, funny, and all too human.

As for the wine obsession, it was pretentious, over-the-top, and easy to poke fun at, but it was also serious, heartfelt, and beautiful. I loved the speech about how wine is a living thing, and it keeps on changing even in the bottle, and how she likes to think about what the weather was like the year the grapes were grown and the people who were a part of making the wine. Can't see that being obsessed with wine is any more absurd than being obsessed with trains, baseball, cooking, or collecting dolls or stamps or pottery.

Foul language rarely bothers me unless it's directed at me in a hostile manner. I guess you don't watch HBO.

walkinaround

please, i don't see how there is much to debate about this movie. kind of like debating about what is the deep meaning to that episode of "friends". sorry, just don't get why this is on anyone's list of thought provoking or artsy movies. it's one of those movies that i thought people would just watch and enjoy but forget about.

Dreamer2

"The guys have their faults, but they have their virtues as well, not the least of which is their friendship."

What virtues??? I did not think that the tall "actor" character had any redeeming value at all. He was simply using this guy who had been his roommate for one semester in college because he had nobody else. And the wine lover was an enabler, willing to be used. He stole from his own mother! Hopefully he learned something, and perhaps could change in the future, but I saw no promise of that in the film.

Patrick, Patrick... You do love a good debate. I think people should go easy on Lee Lane; she was simply jumping to someone's defense. She must not be familiar with Patrick's style.