Overthetop loser?

No offense, but did the hurt strike you at home in any way? In response to just this kind of criticism of his character, a friend of mine observed that "film critics don't suffer yuppies lightly, not especially yuppie film critics."

Reality check: if you think that chick would have called him back after that self-serving, whining, self-lacerating and self-pitying message....well, go for it.

This comment baffles the hell out of me. Do you live your life in a John Wayne movie? Or a Rumsfeld press conference? Self-serving? Hardly. Sincere, deeply regretful, and heartbroken is more like it. Self-pitying? Well, sure. I'm not sure whether to congratulate or pity you for the apparently square-jawed, unscarred emtional life from which you're criticizing Giamatti's character.

I don't understand why guys like to see such jerks end up with babes (blonde, smart, and with a SERIOUS rack) when it's so out of touch w/reality. Wait a mintute....now I understand.

A-haaa. Ha ha. I seee. Yes, I'll admit that Giamatti was pretty well outclassed by her in terms of physical beauty--though I happen to think blondes and SERIOUS racks are grossly overrated, so maybe I think he's maybe a tad less outclassed than you do. But there was more to his character than this broad tarring of "jerk," (though that's not to deny he was a jerk) and I think the chemistry between him and her was very convincingly pulled off.

Payne's films are refreshing for their deeply flawed "heroes." I read recently . . . where did I read this? Oh. I was reading Harold Bloom's chapter on Ibsen in The Western Canon, and there he cites a critic who refers to Ibsen's characters as instancing the truism that most people's virtues are implicated in their faults. The flipside to this, which I think is no less true, is that most people's virtues are indebted to their faults. I think Giamatti's character fits this bill. His faults just happened to be more apparent for his being at a decidedly low point in his life (still carying a torch for his ex-wife, unable to get published, deeply disappointed, yes, self-pitying, etc.), sunk all the lower by his regretful betrayal of a woman who looks to be a fresh turn of fortune for him.

Also, while I agree that as a crafted film Sideways leaves much to be desired, and that it did have its share of over-the-top moments (the retrieval of the wallet, however funny, I could have done without), I think it was very self-consciously flirting with some of its sylistic cliches. It also has what is in my limited experience the best depiction of drunkenness in the history of film.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Sideways: - tinear 13:14:05 02/02/05 (32)

Obnoxious - edta 16:06:44 02/05/05 (0)

To the guys who loved this movie and disagreed w/me below: - tinear 18:18:57 02/03/05 (9)

Re: To the guys who loved this movie and disagreed w/me below: - Analog Scott 08:29:40 02/05/05 (6)

Ok, you're right. Divorced babes are attracted to - tinear 07:07:58 02/06/05 (5)

Re: Ok, you're right. Divorced babes are attracted to - Analog Scott 08:18:51 02/06/05 (4)

Exactly what is incorrect? Giamatti's description? His "pass?" - tinear 11:24:40 02/06/05 (3)

Re: Exactly what is incorrect? Giamatti's description? His "pass?" - Analog Scott 12:29:01 02/06/05 (2)

Please, please, Scott, ask Virginia - tinear 05:17:41 02/07/05 (1)

Re: Please, please, Scott, ask Virginia - Analog Scott 14:55:42 02/07/05 (0)

I saw it with my wife - mvwine 07:30:45 02/04/05 (0)

I'm surprised that you can be so effected/triggered by the character and still not think the actor did a good job. - sjb 07:14:07 02/04/05 (0)

Couldn't disagree more - mvwine 07:13:44 02/03/05 (6)

Re: Couldn't disagree more - patrickU 10:32:37 02/03/05 (5)

LOL! Maybe you're right... - mvwine 11:25:44 02/03/05 (4)

Apparently merlot sales have gone down drastically as a result of this movie. - Bulkington 06:27:22 02/04/05 (0)

You and mon ami Patrick couldn't be more wrong: - tinear 18:09:40 02/03/05 (1)

Just teasin ya, Tin - mvwine 07:24:26 02/04/05 (0)

Re: LOL! Maybe you're right... - patrickU 13:04:38 02/03/05 (0)

Re: Sideways - Yawwn......... - PdL 02:15:31 02/03/05 (2)

Re: "predictable"? - rico 05:34:34 02/03/05 (1)

Re: "predictable"? - PdL 10:32:19 02/03/05 (0)

Re: Sideways: ( Warning spoilers) - Analog Scott 15:10:41 02/02/05 (4)

Scott, you are describing his actions. I am - tinear 17:37:33 02/02/05 (3)

Re: Scott, you are describing his actions. I am - Analog Scott 08:18:44 02/05/05 (0)

The acting - sjb 17:50:37 02/02/05 (1)

Re: The acting - Bulkington 09:38:07 02/03/05 (0)

Check out the laudits . . . - mr grits 13:34:50 02/02/05 (5)

Gritsman: I care not if many eat shit and call it patÃ©, - tinear 17:42:05 02/02/05 (4)

Re: Gritsman: I care not if many eat shit and call it patÃ©, - jamesgarvin 10:44:51 02/04/05 (0)

Overthetop loser? - Bulkington 10:19:15 02/03/05 (1)

Ditto on almost everything - mvwine 11:53:38 02/03/05 (0)

She called him back - sjb 17:52:01 02/02/05 (0)

Follow Ups

Overthetop loser? - Bulkington 10:19:15 02/03/05 (1)

Ditto on almost everything - mvwine 11:53:38 02/03/05 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.