I am part of the .000009 percent of the population who hasn't seen "Sideways," but I like Paul Giamatti. He's a good leading man in this part, someone likable, and I was interested in what would happen to his character.
Casting and script were handled well for Cleveland, too. He's not one of those improbably handsome actors who you could never imagine as a building super. He doesn't have to have a romance or, god forbid, an obligatory love scene the way all blockbusters seem to require anymore. It stretched my patience how the movie just skipped over how Cleveland convinced all of his neighbors about Story's story, but he came across as the kind of guy people liked and trusted. He was an ordinary man inexplicably chosen to play a great, important role, and he lived up to his end. For me, he redeemed the movie from its flaws.
11 comments:
I should clarify I meant Cleveland, the character, was chosen for an important role, not Paul Giamatti. Hehe.
He's a very natural actor. He was obviously the best thing about this movie.
You know, cl, I'd be interested to see what you think of "Sideways." I saw it on Pay-per-View a while after everyone was talking about how fucking great it was. I didn't trust all the hoopla and all the jokers taking a movie-induced interest in pinot grigio. Plus, one of our favorite co-workers said he liked Paul Giamatti because he reminded him of himself (OK, who would openly cite that as a reason for liking someone? Identifying with maybe. But liking? Whatever). So I wasn't keen to see it, but then one night I watched it — with all this baggage about it around me— and I found the Giamatti character really unlikable, and I had a negative take on the movie as a result.
Now, though, I'd like to see it again, because I think I probably found that character so annoying because Giamatti REALLY UNDERSTOOD how annoying he was and conveyed it almost too perfectly.
He's just a natural.
I don't agree that he redeemed "Lady in the Water" per se, but his sheer talent made it watchable.
Oops, it was pinot noir in "Sideways." Duh.
Yup, pinot noir sales went up after that movie. But it is still a good wine or can be since it is more of a trick to make well than the big trade wines like merlot.
I agree that Giamatti is a natural actor. And since he isn’t physically attractive, he ends up in such interesting roles. You should watch “Sideways” again, kc. I think you are exactly right that the wine snob is supposed to be annoying in a way that never gets redeemed. And why should it?
Have you seen “American Splendor”? Just fucking brilliant.
DW, we watched "American Splendor" with George. I think he said it was his favorite movie.
George knows a thing or two.
"American Splendor" is fantastic. Giamatti was unbelievably good as Harvey Pekar. He has perfect character comprehension — how someone would look and walk and talk and gesture and carry himself. Everything. He nails it. Every time.
Maybe I'm alone here, but I am not impressed by Giamatti. But, then again, I never saw "American Splendor."
Did you see "Sideways," Erin? What did you think?
I only saw part of it, not enough to make a judgment, although I will say that I didn't finish the movie because I got bored with it and got up to do some chores.
I confess I fell asleep for about 20 minutes during it — woke up groggily to catch the ending.
I would like to see it again sometime, though, because my appreciation of Giamatti has changed so dramatically.
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