Sideways

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2:24

Sideways

R

2004

2h 6m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

230 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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Critics Consensus

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

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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.

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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.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

4/5

Excellent but explicit movie is not for kids.

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Rachel Wagner

Hallmarkies Podcast

Apr 7

a solid film. Very well acted

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Dan Buffa

Ramble On With Buffa (Substack)

Dec 29

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.

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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.

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william s

@SillyBommers 1d

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.

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Brian H

Oct 7

Such a great movie with heart and laughs.... everyone in this movie is great.

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Matheus F

Sep 1

A movie where Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen shine in every scene. The script is gold.

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David M

Aug 28

It's been a long time - maybe 20 or so years - since I saw this now much-loved comedy-drama about two friends going for a holiday in California's wine country the week before one of them is married. It's rightly celebrated for a brilliant script, and its deft insights into friendship, relationships and the mid-life crisis. Paul Giamatti is, of course, brilliant, and I'd forgotten that the always wonderful Sandra Oh plays such a key role. I was less sure about Thomas Haden Church's performance, which to me just doesn't quite work. But it's hard to take against this endearing, warm-spirited and genuinely funny film. Giamatti makes the material sing, and he's a pleasure to watch in every frame he's in.

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michael f

Jun 18

Hilarious. Relateable. Can rewatch and enjoy.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 8

Funny in 2 hours and 6 minutes!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Nudity, Language and Some Strong Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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

Cousin Bette

41%

45%

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Sideways: Trailer 1

2:24

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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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