Sideways (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

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 93 wins & 34 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 6	11:00 PM	FX
Tue. July 7	10:00 AM	FX

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:

The scenes in the winery "Frass Canyon" were filmed at Fess Parker, a winery owned by former actor Fess Parker, most famous for Disney's series Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955).

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

Giamatti was ROBBED!

Sideways is a beautiful portrait of mid life disappointment. The backdrop is lovely California wine country, and the casting is flawless. Every single performance in this film is surprising, pitch perfect, and unusual. The movie has the remarkable ability to capture sadness and desperation in just the light that allows the audience to recognize the humor. The ending is satisfying but not too pat. In short, this is the best film of 2004.

The standout performance in the film was Paul Giamatti's. I cannot believe he was passed over for an Oscar this year. He should have been nominated for American Splendor, and he definitely should have been nominated for Sideways. His performance was beautiful, romantic, heartbreaking and so human. Paul Giamatti, ignore the Academy! Every year they have less credibility. The people who know films and acting at all know that you are one in a handful of truly great actors working in Hollywood today.