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Wine is important because Miles is using his love of wine as a cover for his alcoholism. For the first half of the movie Miles is a basket case while Jack seems

Wine is important because Miles is using his love of wine as a cover for his alcoholism. For the first half of the movie Miles is a basket case while Jack seems to have everything together, but as the plot progresses we see Miles gradually starting to come out of his neuroticism and then the light shines hard on Jack's sex addiction. The movie is about the contrasts and dynamics that evolve from their respective journeys.

shiftpgdn 5y ago
They don't evolve at all though. Jack cheats on his wife to be with basically no repercussions and Miles never gets over his ex. It even becomes such an issue with his life he drinks his "crown jewel" wine out of a styrofoam cup because he sees no future.
- the_af 5y ago
  The comment you're replying to stated the dynamics evolve, and that is true. In my own reading of the movie, while Jack learns nothing and even earns a reprieve, Miles does evolve -- though painfully and at the very end of the movie. He finally lets go of his ex wife, realizing she's definitely out of reach and committed to a new family now that she's pregnant. He also lets go of his book dream, and also the drinking of his prized bottle signals -- albeit in a humorously depressing manner -- his finally letting go of everything that got him stuck. In my mind his walking up Maya's stairs is a symbol of a hopeful new beginning. Because this is a dark comedy/drama, it's not immediately obvious everything will work out well, but at least there's hope.
j4yav 5y ago
I am surprised that a lot of people seem to have watched this movie and identified the two main characters as role models they want to emulate, that wasn’t my takeaway at all. My reading was similar to yours.
- moron4hire 5y ago
  That's a problem with a lot of people regarding a lot of movies, I've found: people think the Main Character is always the Good Guy and whatever they do is a positive model for life. See: The Wolf of Wall Street.
  - j4yav 5y ago
    High Fidelity as well.

shiftpgdn 5y ago

They don't evolve at all though. Jack cheats on his wife to be with basically no repercussions and Miles never gets over his ex. It even becomes such an issue with his life he drinks his "crown jewel" wine out of a styrofoam cup because he sees no future.

the_af 5y ago
The comment you're replying to stated the dynamics evolve, and that is true. In my own reading of the movie, while Jack learns nothing and even earns a reprieve, Miles does evolve -- though painfully and at the very end of the movie. He finally lets go of his ex wife, realizing she's definitely out of reach and committed to a new family now that she's pregnant. He also lets go of his book dream, and also the drinking of his prized bottle signals -- albeit in a humorously depressing manner -- his finally letting go of everything that got him stuck. In my mind his walking up Maya's stairs is a symbol of a hopeful new beginning. Because this is a dark comedy/drama, it's not immediately obvious everything will work out well, but at least there's hope.

j4yav 5y ago

I am surprised that a lot of people seem to have watched this movie and identified the two main characters as role models they want to emulate, that wasn’t my takeaway at all. My reading was similar to yours.

moron4hire 5y ago
That's a problem with a lot of people regarding a lot of movies, I've found: people think the Main Character is always the Good Guy and whatever they do is a positive model for life. See: The Wolf of Wall Street.
- j4yav 5y ago
  High Fidelity as well.