Sideways (2004)

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

Rex Pickett (novel)
Alexander Payne (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves.

Plot:

Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

Plot Keywords:

Wine | California | Actor | Writer | Teacher

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 94 wins & 34 nominations

Cast

Paul Giamatti	...	Miles
Thomas Haden Church	...	Jack
Virginia Madsen	...	Maya
Sandra Oh	...	Stephanie
Marylouise Burke	...	Miles's Mother
Jessica Hecht	...	Victoria
Missy Doty	...	Cammi
M.C. Gainey	...	Cammi's Husband
Alysia Reiner	...	Christine Erganian
Shake Tukhmanyan	...	Mrs. Erganian (as Shaké Toukhmanian)
Shaun Duke	...	Mike Erganian (as Duke Moosekian)
Robert Covarrubias	...	Miles's Building Manager
Patrick Gallagher	...	Gary the Bartender
Stephanie Faracy	...	Stephanie's Mother
Joe Marinelli	...	Frass Canyon Pourer

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some strong sexual content and nudity.

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Armenian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Taiwan:R-18 | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Hungary:16 | Malaysia:18SX (DVD) | Malaysia:(Banned) (theatrical) | Japan:R-15 | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (re-rating on appeal) | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:III | Mexico:B15 | Netherlands:12 | Peru:PT | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R | Norway:11 | Canada:AA (original rating) | Ireland:15 | Indonesia:Dewasa

Filming Locations:

Buellton, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

During his audition, Thomas Haden Church stripped naked because that was what the scene called for. He later learned that he was the only actor to do that.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the scene at the bowling alley, the woman at the table with Miles (Sienna's grandmother?) is smoking. Smoking indoors is illegal in California (although it is possible the bowling alley simply was not enforcing this rule).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Miles Raymond: Fuck.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fidibus (2006)

Soundtrack:

ONE YEAR AFTER

Keeping Everything Bottled Up.

Sad, disillusioned and depressed middle school teacher/aspiring novelist Paul Giamatti takes his best friend (Thomas Haden Church) to California's wine country for one last week of freedom before he marries. Church is on the prowl though and extremely horny as he wants nothing more than to sleep with women before his wedding. Thus these two opposites (who are more alike than they appear on first glance) have all sorts of adventures and misadventures. They meet two women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh) and immediately take an interest in them. Divorcée Giamatti is shyly attracted to Madsen while Church falls in lust real quick with Oh. What is going to transpire over this week? Outstanding direction by Alexander Payne (who is one of the better "new-age" film-makers) knows which comedic and dramatic buttons to push here. His screenplay (which he co-wrote with cohort Jim Taylor) is deeper than it appears on the surface. Just like "Election" and "About Schmidt", "Sideways" works because the characters are quirky and hilarious, but also vulnerable and real. The four leads are remarkable with Church stealing the show and Madsen doing the work of her life. Giamatti's quiet and heartfelt role makes you sympathize and care for this flawed man. An intelligent adult-themed comedy/drama that works from many angles. 4.5 out of 5 stars.