MovieChat Forums > Sideways (2004) Discussion > Why did Miles lie to Jack?

Why did Miles lie to Jack?


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

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I guess it was just easier for Miles to blame it on Gary, from "The Hitching Post".

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He didn't intentionally rat Jack out to Stephanie via his slip up with Maya, so he was just covering for himself in a half-hazard way. He still may have been exposed if Jack followed up with Stephanie and she told him the details. Either way, you make it sound like Miles betrayed Jack but in the end it wasn't that at all.

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The book did it better. Jack paid Maya $1000 to sleep with Miles. Maya did sleep with Miles, but gave back the money as she says she is not a whore. Miles then punched Jack and broke his nose.

Miles also purposely told Maya that Jack was about to get married. Terra (Stephanie in the film) threatened Jack with a rifle then scratched his face badly.

Yeah, the book is usually better than the film.

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First thing I did when I found out Moviechat existed was looked up this question - only occurred to me long after the old imdb boards had vanished to see if anyone else had asked this.
Having read the answers, I now get it. There are so many reasons.
I'll throw a couple of others out there
(1) It's possible that Miles opened the motel room door with every intention of telling Jack, but didn't get chance to because Jack was being insufferable. He literally jumps on him as soon as he steps in the room, when he eventually cottons on that Miles is visibly upset, he starts mocking him, then, when Miles finally snaps at him, and Jack starts to back off, his only thought is to ask if he had "trouble performing". Would have been very interesting, though, if, when Miles says "don't answer it", Jack asked 'why not'. Would Miles have told him then?
(2) Miles' insecurity has already been mentioned on this thread. Given the vibe of their friendship, and the way their lives were going at that point, it's also possible Miles' train of though was something to the extent of 'Jack already thinks I'm a loser, I don't want his opinion of me to get worse by letting him know that I've told Maya.'
(3) Rationally, there was a possibility that he'd get away with it. They're going home the next morning - OK, chances are Maya called Stefanie to tell her as soon as she got home, but it would just need Stefanie to ghost Jack for the rest of that day (far easier to do in 2004), and Jack to not get upset or obsess over not hearing from her enough to turn up at her house or workplace to ask why - and Miles would hope to distract him with, say, another round of golf or a heavy night on the wine until he forgets about it.
Then they would just go home for the rehearsal dinner the next day, so all Jack's focus then would be on his upcoming wedding.
As someone else has pointed out on this thread, Miles avoided confrontation. In this instance, he was hoping Stephanie and Jack would do the same.

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Did you not find Jack scary seeing how angry he got?

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