MovieChat Forums > Sideways (2004) Discussion > Greatest acting by an actor in a single ...

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.

[–] tomkaren1994 12 years ago

This scene was indeed incredible. I can remember only two other times I've seen a scene performance as powerful... Elisabeth Shue as Sera in Leaving Las Vegas, watching over Ben as he wakes up in the morning after staying over at her apartment, and Judy Parfitt as Vera in Delores Claiborne when she tells Delores about how her husband's brakes "failed" on the way home from his mistress' apartment.

[–] famousmortimer-2 12 years ago

Those are some stellar examples. All three films remain favorites precisely because of the first rate acting -- the way the camera just holds on the performance, catching all the nuances of the eyes and delivery.

[–] oh_no_mrbill 11 years ago

Another single shot that's burned into my mind is Meryl Streep's look of absolute horror in Sophie's Choice as her daughter is taken away by the Nazis. I wouldn't be surprised if that single reaction shot won her the Oscar.

[–] martytamu27 12 years ago

I liked the scene where Maya was describing wine...that was just such an excellent speech. how she thought about the people who made it and how many were dead now and how if you open it any other day it tastes different and so one...that was just an excellent passage delivered perfectly.

and then Miles blowing a perfect moment and in the bathroom after was also very good. but Maya in that scene was teh best in the movie to me.

I thought Miles expression after the wedding also was up there, as was Jack when he wanted miles to go back for the wallet.

[–] pauly196747 11 years ago

Fantastic scene. Her character had so much depth. Not just a pretty face who likes wine, but rather a woman who thinks as deeply (if not more deeply) about things as he does.

[–] Egg_MacGuffin 12 years ago

Denzel in the GLORY campfire scene.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] kennellygerard 11 years ago

the actor -- Dennis Quaid

the scene -- customer appreciation day

the movie -- AT ANY PRICE

[–] pauly196747 11 years ago

Completely agree. I'm still amazed by that scene. Giamatti was unbelievable in this movie.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 11 years ago

Giamatti’s being able to say so much in this film without actually saying anything makes him nothing short of a brilliant actor. My heart breaks for Miles, both in this scene and the scene with Virginia Madsen when she’s talking about wine.

[–] TomRosicky17 11 years ago

Very hard to argue with the OP. I wouldn't say it's the greatest performance by and actor in a single scene but it is very very good. His whole performance caught me off guard and proved his ability as an actor and yes this scene sums up his performance well.

"Doublethink. To deliberately believe in lies, while knowing they're false." Henry Barthes

[–] adidasraver 9 years ago

The only issue I have with OP's statement is that Miles' face wasn't the sole emotional transportation.

The way Paul delivered his lines really helped with the sell. Not only could you see it in his face, but you could hear it in his voice, his replies. The lines written there were just as much a part of the sell for me. Disjointed, nothing overly fake, just his reality has been taken and he's going to reboot from that point on.