Quaffable But Far From Transcendant

Click here for a hilarious rant derived from the hubbub surrounding the film Sideways. "Quaffable, but far from transcendant" has got to be the best line in that film when it comes to ridiculous, verbose, nonsensical descriptions of wine. Yet, it does mean what it means. Hilarious. I have to admit that the film does grow on you like a fine wine. The first time I saw it I thought it was another "fine, well crafted, but far from transcendant" piece of film making from Alexander Payne. On a second viewing, however, I really thought that the film hit on some marvelous character definitions and a certain creeping banality that really roots the film. The reality of these couple of mid-life idiots is all too telling and a great slice of American life as it is for many in the middle classes today. These characters, so embedded in their banal lives, are struggling to accomplish things that are anything but banal - the fanatical appreciation of Pinot Noir, writing a novel, starting a vineyard, etc. Throw in that classic down beat sense of humour present in all of Payne's films and you have some compelling film making.