Sideways (2004 Film)

Sideways is a 2004 comedy directed by Alexander Payne. It stars Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church as Miles and Jack, as well as Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh as Maya and Stephanie. Based on a novel, it tells the story of two men disappointed with their performance in life, one of whom is about to get married. It grossed a total of over $71 million at the box office.http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sideways/

....Payne, one of my favorite filmmakers, doesn't disappoint as he dollops evenly the tragic-comic proceedings with his frequent long-time collaborator Jim Taylor in adapting an unpublished novel by Rex Pickett that has many layers to it and doesn't betray its four intriguing and ultimately human characters with all their flaws and neuroses on full display. Each actor shines with a few moments of soliloquies and dialogue that ring true that will have you laughing til you cry and vice versa (and that my friend is no easy trick)!....— George Schmidthttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/

....Sideways manages to be both contemptuous and contemptible, small and small-minded. I won't bother enumerating the many, many ways in which this movie shows its contempt for anybody who isn't a lifeless oenophile.

I walked into Sideways thinking I was going to love it. I tried so, so hard, but it just broke my heart. This movie hates you, and it wants you to suffer - and if you genuinely enjoyed it you should be ashamed of yourself. — A Franklinhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/usercomments?filter=hate

....Thomas Hayden Church was hilarious as his ex-college roommate/infantile thirtysomething playboy buddy who can't let go of "his plight." He's a stitch. And I agree with everyone, Virgina Madsen makes you melt in this film. She is scrumptuous. Remember, IMDb moralists,...people who live in glass movie-houses, shouldn't throw popcorn! — elkmedicinehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/usercomments

Miles and Jack, two men who are quickly approaching middle age and disappointed in their own lack of success, take a week long trip to California's wine country. Miles wants to make Jack interested in wine tasting but Jack, who is in his last few days as a bachelor before heading down the isle, is interested in making them count. However, both men are forced to ponder their morality, as well as their maturity, when they happen upon two very interesting women.

• Paul Giamatti as Miles

• Thomas Haden Church as Jack

• Virginia Madsen as Maya

• Sandra Oh as Stephanie

• Marylouise Burke as Miles's Mother

• Jessica Hecht as Victoria

• Missy Doty as Cammi

• M.C. Gainey as Cammi's Husband

• Alysia Reiner as Christine Erganian

• Shake Tukhmanyan as Mrs. Erganian

• Shaun Duke as Mike Erganian

• Robert Covarrubias as Miles's Building Manager

• Patrick Gallagher as Gary the Bartender

• Stephanie Faracy as Stephanie's Mother

• Joe Marinelli as Frass Canyon Pourer