Sideways

2004 Comedy Drama

Directed by Alexander Payne, Sideways follows Miles (Paul Giamatti), who is distressed about his lack of success as a novelist, and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), an equally unsuccessful actor with a rapidly approaching wedding. In a last-ditch effort to sow their wild oats, Jack and Miles take off on a final road trip to California's wine country the week prior to Jack's wedding. Both men have goals for the vacation -- Miles wants to turn Jack on to the art of wine tasting, while Jack is concerned with exploiting his last days as a bachelor -- but when the two men come across two fascinating women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh), the duo is forced to examine their morality, and if maturity isn't such a depressing prospect -- at least, for one of them.

Director: Alexander Payne

Starring: Paul Giamatti,Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke

Reviews

  • The characters are played not by the first actors you would think of casting, but by actors who will prevent you from ever being able to imagine anyone else in their roles.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    27 April 2013

  • It's an intoxicating feeling when a movie excites and enlivens us like this -- and there's a particular giddiness to be had in thinking about what movies can (but don't often) do for one's soul after imbibing such a fine vintage.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • Pure movie bliss.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    27 April 2013

  • Payne's little marvel.

    Carla Meyer - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 April 2013

  • This is a building-block movie: Its stand-out excellence becomes apparent only gradually.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Movie of the Year

    AFI Awards (2005)

  • Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay

    Academy Awards (2005)

  • Best Edited Feature Film - Comedy or Musical

    American Cinema Editors (2005)

     
  • Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera)

    Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards (2006)

  • Best Screenplay - Adapted

    BAFTA Awards (2005)