Sideways
Sideways is such a well-written and well-acted film, it is hard to be critical of it (for instance, how these two guys remained best friends over the years since meeting in college stretches believability). But the most accomplished trait in Sideways is how personal it is—not to the audience, not to the director—but to the characters in the story. The nature of each player on the stage is so nuanced—the grief, the immaturity, the longing, the desperation. It reminds us that even though we all go through similar trials and tribulations, the specifics of them are ours and ours alone. While the humor isn't as sharp as Election (Payne's first film), or as poignant as About Schmidt, Sideways is a far more intimate endeavor that proves the value of great writing and great acting.