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Greatest acting by an actor in a single Scene?

posted 13 years ago by the_wrinkled_mind
36 replies | jump to latest

After Jack's wedding, when Miles's ex-wife Victoria tells Miles that she is pregnant, Paul Giamatti's expression was beyond excellent.He didn't say much but that face, man that face.It was almost a coming together of many different emotions.Anger with envy, Shame of not being the one, Sadness, joy for her, Feeling of awkwardness etc.
The only stints of acting I had were in school and college plays, but I know its difficult to portray understated emotions.What Paul Giamatti did was beyond brilliant.

I was surprised to find that, not many have talked about that scene.May it be in reviews or in discussions.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bozohead 13 years ago

You know its good acting when you can remember the scene and his face and expression years later.

[–] Soresu 13 years ago

For everyone's enjoyment...

http://movieclips.com/debDZ-sideways-movie-miles-and-victoria/

"Out!!! Out!!! Who do you work for?!!"

[–] rick03 13 years ago

Definitely agree. You should watch the dvd commentary to get a little more insight on the scene. Apparently, Paul got a lot of help from Payne in playing the scene. The idea he gave him to try to continually smile throughout the whole reaction. Worked pretty darn well.

[–] tiger01 12 years ago

Totally agree. It was just such a brilliant piece of acting and is one of the highlights of the movie for me. I think this is the perfect example of someone figuratively "breaking into pieces".

I don't think Victoria is a bad person and the viewer is naturally more sympathetic towards Miles, but she had lived with Miles long enough to presumably know how devastating something like that would be to him. I don't think she meant it out of cruelty but was rather naive in thinking someone like Miles would be fine such a relatively short time after their divorce.

[–] Jibbler66 11 years ago

wow just finished watching it, seen the thread title and wondered if it would be talking about the same scene! I agree what makes this movie great is it's so realistic not everything has a happy ending not everything is resolved, life is hard and I could feel exactly what he was going through as I have felt those emotions before

[–] duffifi2 10 years ago

Actually, I don't think she did think that. Recall that during Miles's drunken phone call to her, she warned that it would probably best if they were to avoid meeting at the reception, and in the scene under discussion, it was clear she was worried about his emotional reaction. I though she (the actress) also played the scene well; it was heartfelt (and not easy to watch).

[–] spaminput 10 years ago

Even knowing how he would feel about it, I think she decided to have the courage to do the decent thing and tell him the truth herself face to face and take the chance with his reaction. This is the antithesis of Jack's cowardly behavior throughout the entire movie.

[–] taylorje 11 years ago

I would say when Sandra Oh's character beat the *beep* out of Thomas Haden Church with a motorcycle helmet! Loved it. The scum had told her he loved her just days before he got married.

[–] lanis_cupus 10 years ago

That was hardcore.

That's the most you'll ever get out of me Wordman. Ever. -Eddie Wilson

[–] AfroGeek 11 years ago

He's great at using his face. The scene when Church breaks down after losing his wallet he had an equally memorable expression to me.

Amy: I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!

[–] IloveMuggy 9 years ago

Agree, AfroGeek--that was an excellent scene & well-acted on both sides. When Miles realizes that Jack is seriously melting down, his facial acting is incredibly good--as it is when Maya is talking about why she loves wine so much at Stephanie's house. You can see him absolutely fall in love during that scene!

[–] johnsmith0987654321 11 years ago

I agree, he did a great job and he is a great actor.

HOWEVER, don't give too much credit to actors though. You take 100 people and I guarentee at least 20 of them could be oscar winners if given the chance.

Acting is a skill, but it's nothing like being a singer, artist or musician. Actors receive too much credit for what they do in my opinion, and they are overpaid.

Paul Giamatti did a great job, but that doesn't make him the most talented man in the world.

[–] DerekTheCritic 11 years ago

That scene was POWERFUL.

The real joy of "Sideways" is how ordinary and simple it SEEMS. That's the whole point. To the casual viewer, it's a bland, boring movie about a depressed guy getting drunk in wine country with his buddy. But to those who care to look a little more closely, it's a very powerful and intelligent movie about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness (which is really the only way I can describe it). Paul Giamatti in that scene with his ex, especially after all we've learned about the character, portrayed that raw emotion so subtlely and perfectly. How he didn't get NOMINATED is beyond me.

[–] frankstelt 10 years ago

Derek, agree. Remember being very surprised he didn't get nominated for an Oscar.

Frank S.

[–] MudgeMalog 9 years ago

<IMO>The Oscars don't like giving awards to "Loser" characters. Any actor playing a character who's down on life and constantly depressed is bound to get snubbed. The Academy likes actors who fight adversity or conquer their demons or rebound from disaster, etc. Although Miles does, somewhat, come out a winner at the end, for the bulk of the movie, I'd say he's a "Loser."</IMO>

Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda & Leo DiCaprio in Aviator were nominated that year <IMO>in less powerful roles, but got the nomination because their characters were such winners.</IMO>

You think I'm crazy? Perhaps we're all a little crazy. I know I am.
-Hugo Simpson

[–] Stirchley 11 years ago

You take 100 people and I guarentee at least 20 of them could be oscar winners if given the chance.

Yeah, right.

[–] thecrux-1 11 years ago

Wedding scene the OP mentioned was great, but I'd like to add another that happened earlier in the movie:

At the scenic overlook where Miles reminisces to Jack about how he and Victoria enjoyed wine at a picnic and extolled her wine-smarts and Jack tells Miles that Victoria remarried.

Miles reaction was of near devastation. His voice cracked and quivered as he asks who: "To that guy with the restaurant?" Very real.

[–] the_wrinkled_mind 11 years ago

Good spot.