if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!

So I’ve just spent a worthy couple of hours watching the film Sideways. Billed as a film about two men on a trip to experience the (Californian) world of wine, this is really just providing the backbone on which the real story. On the one hand is a guy in search of new direction in life 2 years after his divorce, while on the other is a guy in search of confirmation that his forthcoming marriage is right move for him to take. The resulting film forms an absorbing story with a surprising amount of subtle & not so subtle humour thrown in. And although its perhaps a little sad for what it says about relationships, for example, both leading characters ultimately getting away with their lies / transgressions, it does end on an optimistic with the film ending with both characters finding some sort of direction in which to continue their lives.