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Sideways (2004)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Reviews Counted: 213
Fresh: 206 | Rotten: 7

An emotional and heartfelt comedy.

Average Rating: 8.7/10
Critic Reviews: 42
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 1

An emotional and heartfelt comedy.

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 171,256

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Movie Info

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

R, 2 hr. 6 min.

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Alexander Payne

Written By: Jim Taylor, Alexander Payne

In Theaters: Sep 13, 2004 Wide

On DVD: Apr 5, 2005

Box Office:$71.4M

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Sideways Trailer & Photos

More Photos (13)

Cast

Paul Giamatti
Miles Raymond
Thomas Haden Church
Jack Lapate
Virginia Madsen
Maya
Sandra Oh
Stephanie
Marylouise Burke
Miles' Mother
Jessica Hecht
Victoria
Missy Doty
Cammi
M.C. Gainey
Cammi's Husband
Robert Covarrubias
Mile's Building Manager
Stephanie Faracy
Stephanie's Mother
Duke Moosekian
Erganian Mike
Patrick Gallagher
Gary The Bartender
Toni Howard
Evelyn Berman-silverman
Peter Dennis
Leslie Brough
Robert Trow
Obnoxious Golfer
Phil Reeves
Vacationing Dr. Walt He...
Alysia Reiner
Christine Erganian
Joe Marinelli
Frass Canyon Pourer
Chris Burroughs
Chris At Sanford
Rev. Fr. Khoren Babouchia...
Armenian Priest
Lee Brooks
Ken Cortland
Alison Herson
Foxen Winery Pourer
Lacey Rae
Los Olivos Waitress
Cesar "Cheeser" Ramos
Barista
Daniel Rogers
Reciting Eighth Grader
Natalie Carter
Siena
Simon Kassis
Mini-mart Owner
Sevag Kendirjian
Armenian Deacon
Heghine (Helen) Harboyan
Wedding Vocalist
Gohar Toranyan
Wedding Organist
Shake Toukhmanian
Shake Tukhmanyan
Shaun Duke

Critic Reviews for Sideways

All Critics (224) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (216) | Rotten (7) | DVD (43)

Payne has made a movie for the same sorts of people, one with body and 'nose' and character that movie lovers will savor long after the credits have rolled.

November 19, 2004 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel

| Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

This isn't the sort of road comedy we're used to seeing. Its humor is more likely to provoke smiles and light chuckles than guffaws.

November 12, 2004 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

| Comment

Eric Harrison

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

The film's Cassavetes-style aimlessness (think of it as a West Coast Husbands) gets a jolt when each of the guys pairs up with a willing woman.

November 12, 2004 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee

| Comment

Joe Baltake

Sacramento Bee

Top Critic

The acting is superb, from the free-spirited Oh to the compassionate Madsen to the irresponsible Church. The standout is Giamatti.

November 11, 2004 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

| Comments (3)

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Top Critic

From its first minutes, maybe even from the credits, you know you are seeing something very special.

November 5, 2004 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press

| Comment

Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Top Critic

Sideways is one of those films that's a bit too good to review: It strikes a unique tone, blends a bit of tall-tale fun with everyday life, and pretty much hits every note in your psyche.

November 5, 2004 Comment

Tom Long

Detroit News

Top Critic

Excellent but explicit movie is not for kids.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comments (4)

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

"Sideways" is about wine aged to perfection sipped by men who've aged to mediocrity - softer, hornier versions of Walter and The Dude. But Miles's brutal honesty is its soul. He's annoyingly, depressingly out there, but never fraudulent.

October 1, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com

| Comment

Nick Rogers

Suite101.com

Giamatti handily raises what could've been a pedestrian road trip romance into the stratosphere of a world-class character study

September 3, 2010 Full Review Source: Cinema Writer

| Comment

Jay Antani

Cinema Writer

Sideways is the first of Payne's films in which we have the chance to really care for the characters; he reins in his harsh satire better than before.

September 7, 2007 Comment

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

The year's second best movie about broken and lonely people (after Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

October 11, 2006 Comment

Russ Breimeier

Christianity Today Source: Christianity Today

In Payne's overarching triumph, Sideways is a sensitive, to the point of disturbing, expose of love....love that can blossom with that high school hallway sweetness even in the withered garden of midlife.

September 27, 2006 Full Review Source: Bangitout.com

| Comment

Jordan Hiller

Bangitout.com

click to read article [Greek]

September 10, 2006 Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses

| Comment

Joseph Proimakis

Movies for the Masses

...a leisurely paced film about introspection, neurosis and finding tranquility.

July 25, 2005 Full Review Source: www.kcactive.com

| Comment

Uri Lessing

www.kcactive.com Source: www.kcactive.com

Sideways is non-mainstream pretentiousness done right

July 6, 2005 Full Review | Comment

Mike Sage

Peterborough This Week Source: Peterborough This Week

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Sideways

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A lovable and funny comedy with the typical humor from Alexander Payne. Fresh.

January 28, 2012

Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

Lovely, splendid movie. Despite the indie production value, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen because of the fluid conversation, engaging characters and in-your-face genuineness. No matter how depressing, I appreciate honesty in every aspect of my life (which explains why I'm such a big Judd Apatow fan) and when

November 14, 2011

Letitia Lew

Super Reviewer

Sideways Quotes

View All

1. Jack Lapate: See? rigth there... that's beautiful. A smudge of excrement... I could never write that.
– Submitted by Jorge T (26 days ago)
1. Jack Lapate: Youre a bad, bad, girl Stephanie.
2. Stephanie: I know and I need to be spanked.
– Submitted by Mandy S (7 months ago)
1. Miles Raymond: It tastes like the back of a fucking L.A. school bus. Now they probably didn't de-stem, hoping for some semblance of concentration, crushed it up with leaves and mice, and then wound up with this rancid tar and turpentine bullshit. Fuckin' Raid.
2. Jack Lapate: Tastes pretty good to me.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
1. Jack Lapate: Listen, man. Cammi gets off in an hour, so I was thinking I'd just hang around and have a drink, and make sure she gets home safe.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
1. Jack Lapate: If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot.
2. Miles Raymond: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!
– Submitted by Jake R (10 months ago)

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