Sideways (2004)

IMDB

My opinion of this film didn't change seeing it for the second time, and that's a good thing. Paul Giamatti should have gotten an Oscar nomination. It speaks to two things that he didn't.

First, that the field of male actors was overrun with great performances this year. A lot of those roles are more Oscar-prone due to their more emotional and worldly topics. I mean, we have the amazingly deserving Don Cheadle, who is too often overlooked as an actor (for similar reasons that I'm going to give below for Giamatti). This year he plays a role that the Academy couldn't ignore, as penance for America turning our back on the Rwandan genocide. We have Johnny Depp, Leo in one of those sprawling, huge movies that Oscar loves, Clint--and Clint is always great, and then Jamie Foxx, being nominated, I think, for the "Ohmigod, that guy can really ACT. We just thought he was a silly comedian/action sidekick" reaction, on top of what seems to be a remarkable performance.

Second, Paul Giamatti played the role in Sideways so well, and so believably that he convinces you that he really is that guy. Looking into his life, with a un-Hollywood car, in an un-Hollywood apartment, and completely un-Hollywood environs, it's more like hanging out with this dude you know, as opposed to spending time inside an idealized life, as most movies suggest. The fact that Giamatti isn't really like that in reality bears no weight, I'm afraid. It was also just a bit too close to Harvey Pekar in it's shy sad sackiness. I think that many people overlooked him because they may see this role as typecasting--Giamatti was good because he played himself. Of course, that's bullshit, but my completely amateur analysis must be true, right? How else can you describe his lack of nomination.

As for who I would replace to put Giamatti on the list--well, I don't know not having seen any of the other films. It's kind of like watching the O.J. trial and thinking "Chist, that dude is so guilty." and then thinking "What the hell? How can people defend him?" without thinking "Well, I'm not on the jury in this trial, I haven't heard all the evidence, and you have to trust that those 12 people are trying their hardest they can to be objective, because that's what our justice system is based on. Not trial by Inside Edition, trial by jury." In other words, I can't second guess the jurors without being in their place. But I certainly can say this:

Yo Giamatti! You were totally robbed, dude.

On a side note, I saw this movie in a theater in Bellingham, Washington, where I spent my high-school years. It was in this theater that my oldest sister took me to see Blade Runner, one of the formative cinematic experiences of my life.