Sideways Movie Review 2004

Open a bottle of pinot noir and enjoy the darkly comedic road trip of two self-absorbed, middle-aged buddies in denial. Divorced English teacher, failed novelist, and oenophile Miles (teddy-bearish Giamatti) decides that his lothario, D-list actor pal Jack (Church) deserves a weeklong send-off in the California wine country before his marriage. Naturally, they meet two women infinitely more self-aware and honest than themselves. For Miles, it's kindly blonde waitress Maya (Madsen) while Jack figures he can indulge in a pre-wedding fling with tart-tongued wine pourer Stephanie (Payne's wife Oh). Payne's film is for adults in the best possible way: it's intelligent, amusing, exasperating, and romantic--much like the characters themselves. Great performances by all; based on the novel by Rex Pickett.

Distribution

Fox Home Entertainment, PO Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213, Phone: (310)369-3900, Toll-free: 888-223-4FOX, Fax: (310)369-5811, URL: http://www.foxmovies.com/index1.html, Remarks: Also known as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 124 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, Buddies, Bachelor Party, Road Trip, Otherwise Engaged, Romantic Adventures, Midlife Crisis, San Diego

Screenplay

Alexander Payne

Cast

Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht, M.C. Gainey, Missy Doty

Cinematography

Phedon Papamichael

Director

Alexander Payne

Music

Rolfe Kent

Other

Jose Antonio Garcia, Dondi Bastone, Kevin Tent, Timothy "TK" Kirkpatrick, Wendy Chuck, Jane Ann Stewart

Producer

Michael London, 20th Century-Fox

Awards

Oscars 2004: Adapt. Screenplay; British Acad. 2004: Adapt. Screenplay; Golden Globes 2005: Film--Mus./Comedy, Screenplay; Ind. Spirit 2005: Actor (Giamatti), Director (Payne), Film, Screenplay, Support. Actor (Church), Support. Actress (Madsen); Screen Actors Guild 2004: Cast; Writers Guild 2004: Adapt. Screenplay.