I love flawed characters. Perhaps it's because they seem so much more real. Join me for a little analysis of the screenplay Sideways, which is wonderfully written. :)
Logline: Two old friends setting off on a
wine-tasting road trip...only to veer dizzily sideways into a wry, comedic
exploration of the crazy vicissitudes of love and friendship, the damnable
persistence of loneliness and dreams and the enduring war between Pinot and
Cabernet. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Failure is a
part of the human condition, and whenever we see a character in a screenplay
that reveals this aspect of humanity, we are somehow reassured. In the screenplay Sideways, the protagonist has been hard-hit by the failure of his
marriage and the rejection of his novel.
Through the use of good character development, well-written dialogue and
conflict, the authors take the audience/reader on a metaphoric journey filled
with universal appeal while covering complex life questions, such as: depression, mid-life crisis, honesty
and infidelity.
The opening
scene in Sideways reveals a lot about
MILES RAYMOND’S character. Miles
is hung-over, and running late for an appointment that he had forgotten
about. The opening line says it
all: “…the fuck….” A worker
[painter] is standing at the door asking him to move his car. Dressed in only underwear, a bathrobe
and a pair of clogs, Miles proceeds to move his car, and ends up falling asleep
in it. It is clear that he is
somewhat out of sorts as he races back into his apartment in frenzy and shouts
out the repeated one-liner, “Fuck!” He is late for an appointment.
Miles is an
eighth grade English teacher and a want-to-be novelist who has not moved on
after going through a divorce. He
is a loser. In fact, he seems to
be going through the motions of life passionless, with the exception of his
love for wine and his fascination with Pinot. When asked about his love for pinot his response is not only
informative about the nature of the wine, it somewhat mirrors him. Note the following excerpt:
MAYA
Can
I ask you a personal question?
MILES
(Bracing himself)
Sure.
MAYA
Why
are you so into Pinot? It’s like a thing with you.
Miles
laughs at first, then smiles wistfully at the question.
He
searches for the answer in his glass and begins slowly.
MILES
I
don’t know. It’s a hard grape to
grow. As you know. It’s
thin-skinned,
temperamental,
ripens early. It’s not a survivor
like Cabernet that can grow
anywhere
and thrive even when neglected. Pinot needs constant care and
attention…
Weaving in Metaphor:
Is this
explanation a metaphor that describes him? Is he admitting to his inability to
weather the storms of life and his need for constant attention and
affirmation? He has not survived
his divorce well, and exhibits the signs of someone who is not just down on his
luck in life, but most likely depressed.
This middle-age man has been rejected in love and in his career as a
writer.
In the middle of
their vineyard adventures, Miles and Jack sit on the hood of Miles 12-year-old
Saab sharing a bottle of wine.
Jack encourages Miles to simply write another book. “Another” is the operative word,
because Jack does not know that Miles book has been rejected. In this moment, Miles’ loser mindset
and lack of self-esteem is exposed to the audience/reader with his response to
Jack. Miles not only has no new writing
ideas, he believes that he is washed up.
In fact, he tells Jack that he is not a writer! “No, I’m finished. I’m not a writer. I’m going to spend
the rest of my life grading essays and reading the works of others…the world
doesn’t give a shit about what I have to say. I’m unnecessary (a dark laugh).
I’m so insignificant, I can’t even kill myself.”
Not only is Miles on a journey of self-discovery, the authors humorously use the contrast between Miles and Jack’s characters; they are alive! The diversity between these two men is as broad as the Grand Canyon, but it works well in the storyline. In fact, there is continual tension between the two men, even though humorous, that really adds color to the story. It is human satire at its finest. Jack’s apparent manhood is centered on his ability to land a woman in bed. By contrast, Miles inability to get past rejection brings even more tension into the mix as they discuss their adventures with the two women the night before. Shirtless Jack wants ever detail, but Miles is not amused, nor is he willing to share anything about his time spent with Maya. Clueless Jack continues to try and force the conversation with big bear hugs, and flinging Miles on the bed kissing his cheeks, while affirming how “Proud” he is of him. Miles considers this a private matter, and Jack says, “You’re kidding, right? Tell me what happened you fucker, or I’ll tie your dick in a knot.” The comical conflict continues until finally, in a near triumphant moment, Miles stands up to Jack and tells him that he cannot take it anymore. “Just leave me alone, okay? You’re fucking me up.”
While enjoying his passion for wine, Miles is on a journey of self-discovery. In Sideways, the author’s successfully use the banter between two old friends (Miles and Jack), the development of their opposite characters, and the conflict that arises in their relationship to push the plot forward and bring resolve in the end—Miles is able to move forward with his life. There is resolve and resolution, which is essential in every story.
