I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to wine, but there’s a scene between Miles and Maya where he explains why a certain wine is his favorite – because he sees those specific grapes as fighters, because they’re so delicate.

If Merlot grapes are easier to grow, i’d say Miles’ dislike of that type of wine stems from his lack of respect for the grapes. In other words, if the grapes aren’t fighters, why should he respect the wine?

(I saw the delicate grapes that make Miles’ favorite wines as metaphors for himself, while the more robust grapes that have it easy are metaphors for Jack.)

good questions, and i agree with most of your thoughts.

I’m not sure if Miles’ divorce is a symptom so much as the cause of his problems, and these are the problems that are addressed in the movie.

I’d say these problems give him plenty of reasons to feel depressed: he’s failing life professionally (the book deal), personally (he’s lonely), he’s a loser compared to Jack, and he’s still hung up over his ex-wife.

In other words, he’s moving ‘sideways’ through life instead of forwards, all because of his divorce.

Best,

Dan.

A few questions you’ve got me pondering – Considering the title of the movie, why do you think Miles is moving sideways through life? Maybe Miles divorce is a symptom of a greater problem? If so, do you think it’s addressed in the film? Also, could it be that Miles knows he’s moving sideways and is the true source of his depression? I wonder what was the cause of his divorce?

“I’m not drinking any…merlot!”

Hey – I wonder why Miles is adverse to Merlot? Does he see himself “stuck” in life as a “common Merlot” and not something more “grand?”