After a series of roles in largely forgettable films, Virginia Madsen's struck gold playing Paul Giamatti's love interest in "Sideways." Adapted from Rex Pickett's novel, writer/director Alexander Payne ("About Schmidt") delivers another solid relationship drama, this time set in the wine country.
One of the best reviewed movies of 2004, "Sideways" has been nominated for seven Golden Globes and was selected as the Best Movie of 2004 by the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics. "Sideways" was also chosen as one of the best films of the year by the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
So how does Virginia Madsen feel about all this acclaim? Like I said, she's positively glowing with pride over the honors bestowed on director Payne and the rest of the cast and crew.
INTERVIEW WITH VIRGINIA MADSEN:
First of all, congratulations. Every press release I get seems to be about "Sideways" winning another award. How does all this make you feel?
I’m so pleased, and it’s been very rewarding. We’ve been doing quite a bit of Q&As where maybe one or more of us go and we speak after the film. You know, we’re not on stage, we’re not doing a play, so we don’t have a relationship with the audience but going through that process and also just hearing how much people love the film, you feel like you do have a relationship with the audience. You are getting some feedback and it’s really nice. Most of the films that I’ve done, I didn’t get to receive that so I’m enjoying it.
What’s the most common question you’re asked at a Q&A?
Well, they’re all very different. I mean, sometimes people get into big debates. Like when we were in Washington, [they were] big debating audiences. Debates about women and men, men and women, what’s it all about. I’ll tell ya (laughing). Sometimes they get into a bit of man-bashing and I always try to go, “Hey, you know what you guys? That’s not really what it’s about.” Sometimes they get into interesting discussions about what does "Sideways"’ mean. About what does the title mean.
What does it mean to you?
To me it meant, just looking at it from a Maya point of view, it meant that Paul [Giamatti’s] Miles is always moving laterally in his life. And she just wants him to take a couple of steps forward, you know? The idea that he [should] stop moving sideways, just take a couple of steps forward. Men, we don’t need you to be a knight in shining armor. We just need you to be a little bit brave, just a little bit. And some of them are, and that’s what he does.
What is it about Alexander Payne’s work that so connects with audiences?
First of all, he’s so incredibly smart. He’s really sharp and I find him to be an extremely observant person. He watches people and he listens to people, and he likes actors. He likes working with actors. He likes his crew, and so he creates an atmosphere on his set that is really conducive to our creativity - and the crew’s, as well. It’s so laid back, so relaxed. Nobody is stressed out about anything. And so his actors are able to give these really vulnerable and very real performances. That’s sort of, I guess, like an oxymoron but somehow it happens.
