Charming, thoughtful, and often funny, Sideways is a decidedly mature road trip comedy full of excellent performances. Read critic reviews
Sideways
2004, Comedy/Drama, 2h 6m
232 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
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Movie Info
Struggling writer and wine enthusiast Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his engaged friend, Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a trip to wine country for a last single-guy bonding experience. While Miles wants to relax and enjoy the wine, Jack is in search of a fling before his wedding. Soon Jack is sleeping with Stephanie (Sandra Oh), while her friend Maya (Virginia Madsen) connects with Miles. When Miles lets slip that Jack is getting married, both women are furious, sending the trip into disarray.
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Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Strong Sexual Content)
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Genre: Comedy, Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Alexander Payne
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Producer: Michael London, George Parra
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Writer: Rex Pickett, Alexander Payne
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Release Date (Theaters): original
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $71.5M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Fox
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Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD
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Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)
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Critic Reviews for Sideways
Audience Reviews for Sideways
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Paul Giamatti gives a brilliant performance in this film. I laugh a little at the pretentiousness of his character as he samples wine and detects the "faintest soupçon of, like, asparagus", but I secretly wish I had his palate and expertise. It's funny to hear him express his strong opinions, e.g. "No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!" And then his soft, touching comments on Pinot Noir, reflecting the rewards of patience and care with the grapes, that we relate to patience and care with people. His character is unlikeable at the start - a bitter, depressed, morose killjoy who seems to only one interest, wine, which he drinks in extreme amounts. He seems like an alcoholic and a drag to Thomas Haden Church's character, who is getting married in a week and wants to party on a road trip to wine country. However, as the story unfolds, we see just how much he's been hurt, and how much of a friend he really is to Church, who turns out to be quite a profligate. There are some hilarious moments between the two of them, and the women they meet, played by Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen create romantic and moral tension. Sandra Oh is fantastic, and I especially love her sassy first scene, when she's pouring wine samples and after putting up with Giamatti's attitude, pours him a giant amount on his third glass. Virginia Madsen has her moments too, such as when she tells Giamatti how she connects to wine, thinking of it as a living thing, from the year the grapes were growing to the people who tended and picked them, and then constantly evolving in the bottle. Director Alexander Payne gives us touching moments, and a nice balance of comedy, darkness, and romance in the film. There are nice shots of the wine country and small towns they're in, like Solvang, sure, but how he shoots the scene were Giamatti drunk dials his ex-wife is wonderful, amplifying the feeling of intoxication. Well done.
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Giamatti's manic self-loathing is the films' greatest aspect, but Payne has written and directed a mature and humorous drama.
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Engaging, well-paced, and ultimately satisfying, Sideways is an enjoyable, well-acted comedy that features tender moments, strong writing, and subtle humor.
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