Why did Miles lie to Jack?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Sideways
lanis_cupus — 11 years ago(April 13, 2014 07:06 PM)
I really thought I had these characters nailed down by the midway point of the film. Jack is obviously guided only by his vices and weaknesses, but Miles seemed like more of a stand-up friend. Then he suddenly rolls out a huge lie by denying that he spilled the beans about the wedding. I know Miles is pathetic and spineless in other ways, but that lie just felt out of character to me. It's not like he told Maya intentionally. And if there's one thing Jack seems pretty good at it's forgiving his best friend.
Anyone have any insight/opinions on the matter?
That's the most you'll ever get out of me Wordman. Ever.
-Eddie Wilson -
lanis_cupus — 11 years ago(May 25, 2014 07:48 PM)
Uh, I think this one's a little bigger than a white lie. Jack even brings it up a 2nd time and Miles clings to his fib. And if you think about it, Miles's guilt is probably what causes him to allow Jack to wreck the car.
I'm starting to think these characters were made to be a little too pathetic.
That's the most you'll ever get out of me Wordman. Ever.
-Eddie Wilson -
lanis_cupus — 11 years ago(August 03, 2014 04:01 PM)
It's not a massive lie. It's totally believable that in that moment he doesn't want to to spill the beans and deal with all the crap that would ensue.
True. I guess I just expected him to come clean at some point. That would have been more consistent with his character, or what I thought was his character.
Then again, the whole movie is about disillusionment.
That's the most you'll ever get out of me Wordman. Ever.
-Eddie Wilson -
randyhndrsn — 11 years ago(June 28, 2014 05:45 PM)
Probably to avoid all the complaining Jack would have done, he didn't wanna deal with more of Jack's constant guilt tripping and he probably thought Jack didn't deserve to know anyway.
The characters are as complex as people are in real life, sometimes people lie just because they want to avoid something, even if it's a serious lie.
You never know what the characters are gonna do or how scenes will play out, that's the real brilliance of Sideways and how it sneaks up on you. -
lanis_cupus — 11 years ago(August 03, 2014 04:15 PM)
First and foremost, keep in mind that Jack needs Miles as much as Miles needs Jack. It's an ugly sort of symbiosis, but still a symbiosis.
Jack might have disowned him for a while but he would have gotten over it when he realized that Stephanie was just a sidebar fantasy in his life.
Also, Jack seems pretty "easy come, easy go" which might be his most redeeming quality.
And from my personal awareness: The great thing about people who aren't very deep is that they don't tend to hold grudges that long.
That's the most you'll ever get out of me Wordman. Ever.
-Eddie Wilson -
kentor404 — 10 years ago(August 02, 2015 01:07 PM)
He was also dishonest about being a published author and willing to go along with other lies in the movie, so it wasn't completely out of character. Like so many people, Jack and Miles were both willing to be less than honest for self-serving reasons.
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daughterofolaf — 10 years ago(October 11, 2015 10:01 PM)
I think he simply didn't want to deal with the aftermath that would certainly follow and if you think about it, what difference would it ultimately make how Stephanie found out? There would be nothing to gain by admitting it to Jack. Jack would obviously have been angry over it although his anger would be totally misplaced as the entire situation was his own doing. It would just be one more thing to have to contend with after such a stressful trip.
"Why couldn't the monkey arrange this from INSIDE the garbage can?" -
lanis_cupus — 10 years ago(October 18, 2015 08:22 PM)
Wow, you almost seem like you're defending Miles.
Let me put it this way. Throughout most of the film I felt that Jack and Milespathetic as they arehad a strong and admirable friendship. After Miles' bald-faced lie, I felt that their entire friendship had been a hoax. -
daughterofolaf — 10 years ago(October 19, 2015 12:44 PM)
I don't know that I am defending him, I was just answering the question of possible reasons as to why he lied.
I personally don't think that this one lie rendered their 20+ year friendship a hoax. Sure, lying is generally bad, but Miles didn't MEAN to do it, Jack was the dumbass that put him in the situation in the first place (among many other situations he put him in throughout the film) and it has been established that Jack is not the most rational person and Miles just couldn't deal with anymore issues.
At any rate, Jack STILL felt Miles was ultimately to blame for the reveal (remember, Miles said that the dude at the Hitching Post probably told her because Jack and Miles mentioned it to him the first night out there and Jack screams "Oh, did 'WE' mention it? YOU mentioned it, a******!") so it really doesn't seem like there would have been a largely different outcome regardless.
I am not really trying to defend or blame, I am just answering the question of why he lied.
"Why couldn't the monkey arrange this from INSIDE the garbage can?"
