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With Sideways, Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Storytelling) has become an unlikely but engaging romantic lead. Struggling novelist and wine connoisseur Miles (Giamatti) takes his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church, Wings) on a wine-tasting tour of California vineyards for a kind of extended bachelor party. Almost immediately, Jack's insatiable need to sow some wild oats before his marriage leads them into double-dates with a rambunctious wine pourer (Sandra Oh, Under the Tuscan Sun) and a recently divorced waitress (Virginia Madsen, The Hot Spot)--and Miles discovers a little hope that he hasn't let himself feel in a long time. Sideways is a modest but finely tuned film; with gentle compassion, it explores the failures, struggles, and lowered expectations of mid-life. Giamatti makes regret and self-loathing sympathetic, almost sweet. From the director of Election and About Schmidt. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY WINNER OF 2 GOLDEN GLOBES, INCLUDING BEST PICTURE (COMEDY / MUSICAL)
In this intoxicating, intelligent comedy, director Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt) serves up "one of the best movies of the year" (Entertainment Weekly) about the ups, downs and sideways journeys of life. A wine-tasting road trip through California's famed Central Coast takes an unexpected detour as Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) hit the gas en route to their mid-life crisis. The comically mismatched pair soon find themselves drowning in wine, women... and laughter!
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By John
Format:DVD
Sideways explores the darker side of character development and the importance of a good wine! Wine, you say? Yes, the essence of wine as a metaphor of the lives we lead, our hopes for the future and our struggles, occassionally, to glimpse the light in our lives through the haze. It's all about making choices, moral or immoral, and its effects on those who surround us. Anyone searching for a strong character driven movie with a sense of humour and an extraordinary insight into the human experience will be delighted with this quirky, yet endearing story that is ... Sideways!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rob Boggs
Format:DVD
If you're in the arts at all, this film will make even more sense to you. Certainly, two friends, both "arts oriented," are at a crossroads. Miles is on the cusp of another wasted effort (his latest literary opus is with an obscure publisher, "Conundrum," tottering on yet another rejection) while his actor friend, Jack, has come to realize his better days may be behind him (he's about to "cave in" and get married to a rather conventional, though lovely woman -- and, most likely, follow in the family business). This film is about their last hurrah; before possibly renouncing their youthful dreams of artistic glory.
The character of Miles is just brilliant -- funny, neurotic, self-loathing (and real because of it); he's like a lot artist friends I know. (Okay, actually, he's like ME.) His friend, Jack, appears more stable and "together" yet he too (as we later find out) is racked with insecurities and self-doubt.
In many ways, this is a coming-of-age, buddy flick; it's about making certain crucial "adjustments" and fully entering adulthood. In my opinion, the friendship is based on an unspoken mutual support; they both value the idea of clinging onto their artistic hopes despite the pressing needs of finding a way to support themselves and some kind of adult stability.
And of course the film is also about "moving on" -- and the loss of youthful male friendship. This road trip is, in effect, a wake for their friendship. As Jack intends to marry, both Miles and Jack realize (without ever mentioning it) that things will never be the same. Marriage is often the final nail in the coffin of friendship between men (as, often, with women). Later, there is even a quote from the novel, A Separate Peace, in which a funeral is described -- and in which the comparison is clearly drawn.
Anyway, a great film. A FUNNY film -- my review may have painted it as "gloomy" when it is not. It's VERY entertaining and lively. It's an unconventional, character-driven film for grown-ups that is FUN!
In addition to this movie, I also need recommend another Amazon pick, a comic novel, "THE LOSERS' CLUB: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, which deals with similar themes of loss and friendships while also managing to be quite funny, lively, and off the cuff. An easy read with short chapters and funny characters, set in pre-9/11 New York City. A great Amazon pick!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rob Boggs
Format:DVD
If you're in the arts at all, this film will make even more sense to you. Certainly, two friends, both "arts oriented," are at a crossroads. Miles is on the cusp of another wasted effort (his latest literary opus is with an obscure publisher, "Conundrum," tottering on yet another rejection) while his actor friend, Jack, has come to realize his better days may be behind him (he's about to "cave in" and get married to a rather conventional, though lovely woman -- and, most likely, follow in the family business). This film is about their last hurrah; before possibly renouncing their youthful dreams of artistic glory.
The character of Miles is just brilliant -- funny, neurotic, self-loathing (and real because of it); he's like a lot artist friends I know. (Okay, actually, he's like ME.) His friend, Jack, appears more stable and "together" yet he too (as we later find out) is racked with insecurities and self-doubt.
In many ways, this is a coming-of-age, buddy flick; it's about making certain crucial "adjustments" and fully entering adulthood. In my opinion, the friendship is based on an unspoken mutual support; they both value the idea of clinging onto their artistic hopes despite the pressing needs of finding a way to support themselves and some kind of adult stability.
And of course the film is also about "moving on" -- and the loss of youthful male friendship. This road trip is, in effect, a wake for their friendship. As Jack intends to marry, both Miles and Jack realize (without ever mentioning it) that things will never be the same. Marriage is often the final nail in the coffin of friendship between men (as, often, with women). Later, there is even a quote from the novel, A Separate Peace, in which a funeral is described -- and in which the comparison is clearly drawn.
Anyway, a great film. A FUNNY film -- my review may have painted it as "gloomy" when it is not. It's VERY entertaining and lively. It's an unconventional, character-driven film for grown-ups that is FUN!
In addition to this movie, I also need recommend another Amazon pick, a comic novel, "THE LOSERS' CLUB: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez, which deals with similar themes of loss and friendships while also managing to be quite funny, lively, and off the cuff. An easy read with short chapters and funny characters, set in pre-9/11 New York City. A great Amazon pick!
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3.4 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
bon film bon service
bon films malgré que un peu long car tourne en rond un peu mais assez drole aussi , beau plan de paysage
Published 4 months ago by Marie
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unpleasant
Teacher and would-be writer Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his actor pal Jack (Thomas Hayden Church) on a trip to the California wine country to celebrate Jack's impending marriage. Read more
Published on Jan 3 2010 by Kona
2.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't live up to the hype
I've heard a lot of people rave about this film, and that, combined with the awards that it won, made me think that I'd enjoy the movie. Well, not so much. Read more
Published on Nov 28 2005 by SkylarKD
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sideways
Alexander Payne's 'Sideways' is a fabulous film about two guys just trying to have some fun before it's to late. Read more
Published on Jun 13 2005 by mk_2
1.0 out of 5 stars
A couple of funny scenes but a depressing film
I did not like this movie. It did not live up to the hype or the endorsements on the box!!!!
The story is about two former college roomates, who now look to be about 40 on a... Read more
The story is about two former college roomates, who now look to be about 40 on a... Read more
Published on April 25 2005
2.0 out of 5 stars
At Least The Wine Looked Good
For all the hype so many people gave me about this movie, I was so dissappointed in the film, I found both characters annoying. Read more
Published on April 20 2005 by princess_me81
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but not great.
This movie entertained me. It's story was cute, it's characters were interesting most of the time, and it made me laugh. Having said that, there was nothing more to it than that. Read more
Published on April 14 2005
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