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Sideways

Play trailer 2:24 Poster for Sideways R 2004 2h 6m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 229 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
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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Sideways

Sideways

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Critics Consensus

Charming, thoughtful, and often funny, Sideways is a decidedly mature road trip comedy full of excellent performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Anupama Chopra Film Companion 05/18/2020
This is a film about human beings who can be flawed and prickly but if you go a little deeper, you will see beauty. This is a wonderfully written script, with a great performance by Paul Giamatti. Go to Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 02/13/2012
Payne does know how to capture two kinds of male menopause. But I can't say he ever surprised me. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/28/2010
4/5
Excellent but explicit movie is not for kids. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast Apr 7
a solid film. Very well acted Go to Full Review Dan Buffa Ramble On With Buffa (Substack) 12/29/2024
My favorite scene in the film is an emotionally flattened Miles chowing down on a burger and fries while he pours a vintage bottle of wine into a Styrofoam cup while wearing a tux in a fast food shop. Giamatti made you feel all of it. Go to Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect 10/22/2024
5/5
Giamatti, although overlooked by the Academy, serves as the emotional anchor of the film, holding its narrative together with his compelling performance. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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RichardAB @PoorDearRichard Jan 24 Sideways is one of my all-time favorite dramedies. It’s thoughtful, funny, and strangely moving, showing both the best and worst of human nature. The characters are quirky but relatable, from Miles’s awkward charm to his mother’s memorable presence. My favorite moment is when Maya describes wine as a "living substance" — a line that perfectly captures the film’s mix of insight and humor. This is a movie I could watch again and again. See more Richard B @NYCguy Dec 30 I can watch this film over and over again. It just feels like the characters are real people, but I think that is one of Alexander Payne's trademarks. My favorite part is when Paul G is at home in the beginning and although he has to be somewhere he is just taking his time. After seeing this film, I never, ever, drank Melot again. See more Daniel Y @JunglistDan Dec 27 Possibly the worst film I've ever seen. Guys just go round tasting wine.. See more william s @SillyBommers Dec 4 I wanted to like it more than I actually did. But it probably has more to do with personal taste than anything. It's generally well written, acted and feels like a decent little story about polar opposite approaches to a midlife crisis. That being said, I didn't find it horribly fun to watch the slow motion train wreck on screen and probably would have rated it lower if the final moments of the film hadn't successfully pulled it back out ever so slightly. See more Brian H Oct 7 Such a great movie with heart and laughs.... everyone in this movie is great. See more Matheus F @matheusf_neto Sep 1 A movie where Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen shine in every scene. The script is gold. See more Read all reviews
Sideways

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Cast & Crew

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Alexander Payne

Director

Paul Giamatti

Miles Raymond

Thomas Haden Church

Jack Lopate

Virginia Madsen

Maya

Sandra Oh

Stephanie

Marylouise Burke

Miles' Mother

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Sideways

Sideways: Trailer 1 Sideways: Trailer 1 2:24 View more videos
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Sideways

From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Paul Giamatti in SIDEWAYS From left: Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giamatti in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen in SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti, Virginia Madsen, Director Alexander Payne, Thomas Haden Church and Sandra Oh on the set of SIDEWAYS From left: Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Sandra Oh and Thomas Haden Church in SIDEWAYS From left: Virginia Madsen, Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church and Sandra Oh in SIDEWAYS View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
Director
Alexander Payne
Producer
Michael London, George Parra
Screenwriter
Rex Pickett, Alexander Payne
Distributor
Fox
Production Co
Fox Searchlight, Michael London Productions
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Some Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$71.5M
Runtime
2h 6m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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