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"Sideways": A buddy movie's road to success

We talk to the author behind one of this season's biggest films.

Rex Pickett's first novel became the basis for the breakout movie "Sideways," nominated for best picture (and in four other categories) at Sunday night's Oscars. The story, about a pair of middle-aged guys on a final bachelor road trip, already has scooped up critical kudos and two Golden Globes.

Pickett, 52, whose novel was optioned for the screen before it was even published, is no stranger to awards shows; he wrote the screenplay for the movie that won the 1999 Oscar for best live-action short. We spoke with him:

What's new in your life since the book and movie came out?
I'm able to afford a better bottle of wine. The phone rings more. There are a lot more people in my life -- agents and managers. [But] it's not like I'm driving around in a Rolls-Royce with bodyguards.

What's next?
There is a lot of pressure on me to try to duplicate something that is actually "unduplicate-able." If you write a novel, you just hope to get it published. And now to win all these awards -- and the Oscars! For a little comedy that doesn't scream out "$100 million film."

Miles [played by Paul Giamatti in the movie] is a divorced wine snob. His soon-to-be-wed friend, Jack [Thomas Haden Church], is a cad. What do they say about men and relationships today?
It's almost like Jack sees a diet in his future, so he's eating all he can before it begins ... the prototypical guy who is having marriage jitters, thinking it's tough for the long haul for men to be faithful.

What's the feedback from women been?
They find Jack abhorrent and don't want to believe all men are like that. On the other hand, I think they feel a certain sympathy for Miles.

But in the end, the "bad" guy got the Oscar nomination, and the "good" guy did not. Why?
This comes down to a simple, mundane answer: The best actor category this year was a very strong category, a very tough category.

Given the film's success, we smell a sequel.
I think everyone would love to see them three years later. Jack, of course, is divorced.

And Miles, the main character, who can commit only to a good wine?
The movie is very personal.

So, like Miles, you'd never drink wine from a Styrofoam cup?
I'm not a snob, but to be honest, I have a tasting glass I got from one of my favorite wineries. If I'm opening a good Burgundy, I'm going to pour it into a proper Burgundy glass. Certainly not a "go cup."

-- Vyvyan Lynn