Similar to many of the bromantic relationships depicted in this list, the friendship between Miles and Jack (the central characters from Alexander Payne's sublime film Sideways) is a complicated one, running the gamut from strained and abrasive to warm and touching. As penned by Payne and his writing partner Jim Taylor, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his best friend Jack (an Oscar-nominated Thomas Haden Church) possess more than their fair share of disagreeable traits. Miles is suffering from major depression, appears to be a borderline alcoholic, and struggles to find enjoyment out of anything or anyone. Jack is far more extroverted and fun-loving, but also appears indifferent to the destruction he leaves in his wake. What is remarkable though is that Payne, Taylor, in addition to Giamatti and Church, are able to keep an audience invested in the story of these two men. You continue to root for them to succeed, despite their general unpleasantness. This perhaps makes sense due to how - despite the continual silliness the characters get into - they remain recognizable for what they are: flawed human beings. This feels especially true regarding their friendship, which continues to persevere despite each man's chronic, self-sabotaging behavior. Who can't relate to having a friend stuck in what seems to be an eternal cycle of despondency? Who hasn't had a friend who is a bit of an animal in their relations to the opposite sex? Sideways intuitive grasp on the complexities of the human experience make it a great film. But its decision to feature a deep, emotionally-charged male friendship at the heart of its world makes it a great final addition to this particular list. Do you agree with this list? What films do you feel feature a great, bromantic relationship? Let us know in the comments section below!
Adam Mohrbacher has been afflicted with an obession for film since his earliest memories. In addition to his work with WhatCulture, Adam has been a contributor with Filmophilia.com, FilmMonthly.com and Examiner.com. You can also check out his personal blog here: adammohrbacher@wordpress.com.
A devoted fan of all film genres and styles, Adam gets equally giddy over the sensitive, existential musings of Ingmar Bergman, and the brawny brilliance of Arnold Schwartzenegger. He loves fish tacos and misses the work of Heath Ledger and Jack Lemmon on a daily basis.
