A review by JAMES SOUTHALL

A road movie about two middle-aged men touring California's wine country, contemplating their lives and lack of success, Sideways has attracted much acclaim, much like director Alexander Payne's previous movies including Election and About Schmidt.  He has proved himself to be one of the more interesting and exciting directors around and his movies are of a really high standard, proving how good films can be when their creative teams are allowed to make movies first and marketing exercises are not their concern.  In common with the director's previous films, on board providing the score is Rolfe Kent, and he has excelled himself, writing probably his finest yet.

Ironically it doesn't sound like a film score at all, always coming across more as an album of bright, colourful jazz, and working brilliantly as such.  Despite having a distinctly Italian flavour, you can still almost smell the Californian vineyards, feel the sun beaming down on your skin, taste the merlot.  Performed by a jazz orchestra consisting of piano, vibes, saxes, trumpet, flute, drums, two basses and percussion, it really is a breezy delight.  Of course, one could debate the dramatic merits of a score like this, but it's exactly what this particular film needs, with the music providing wonderful accompaniment to the evocative images.

It only really resembles a more traditional underscore on two occasions.  "Abandoning the Wedding" is a tender, emotional piece led by piano, and the finale "Miles and Maya" more of the same.  Even here, though, the underlying atmosphere is never abandoned.  Scottish composer Kent is sure to become a big name composer in future, and has displayed impressive versatility in his scores for Payne alone, let alone in all his other works.  Sideways picked up a slightly surprising but thoroughly deserved Golden Globe nomination for the composer; it's one of the most addictive film music albums of the year (at 37 minutes it's a perfect length - by the time it's over, you just feel like playing it again!) and comes highly recommended from me.  It has been released by New Line Records in the USA and will be released by Silva Screen in the UK and Europe.

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Tracks

1. Asphalt Groovin' (4:00)
2. Constantine Snaps his Fingers (3:03)
3. Drive! (3:56)
4. Picnic (2:15)
5. Lonely Day (1:40)
6. Wine Safari (2:13)
7. Miles's Theme (2:59)
8. Los Olivos (2:43)
9. Chasing the Golfers (3:03)
10. Walk to Hitching Post (2:32)
11. Abandoning the Wedding (3:25)
12. Slipping Away as Mum Sleeps (1:00)
13. Bowling Tango (:49)
14. I'm Not Drinking Any #@%!$ Merlot! (1:13)
15. Miles and Maya (2:26)