In reading this, you should know that I’m going to include numerous spoilers on Sideways. Sideways is a very plot-based movie; please don’t let me spoil it and watch the movie first.

I – Before the Scene

Sideways is a comedy on most levels, but especially in the Shakespearean sense. It has laughs—because Alexander Payne is a very capable comedy writer and director—but it relies heavily on the misfortune of the characters right up until the “happy” ending, like in…