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Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment embark on a week-long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers:

Rex Pickett (novel), Alexander Payne (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
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Popularity
2,007 ( 276)
Won 1 Oscar. Another 121 wins & 91 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Giamatti ... Miles
Thomas Haden Church ... Jack
Virginia Madsen ... Maya
Sandra Oh ... Stephanie
Marylouise Burke ... Miles's Mother
Jessica Hecht ... Victoria
Missy Doty ... Cammi
M.C. Gainey ... Cammi's Husband
Alysia Reiner ... Christine Erganian
Shake Tukhmanyan Shake Tukhmanyan ... Mrs. Erganian (as Shaké Toukhmanian)
Shaun Duke ... Mike Erganian (as Duke Moosekian)
Robert Covarrubias ... Miles's Building Manager
Patrick Gallagher ... Gary the Bartender
Stephanie Faracy ... Stephanie's Mother
Joe Marinelli ... Frass Canyon Pourer
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Storyline

A week before his friend Jack is to be married, best man Miles and the prospective groom head off to wine country for a week of fun, relaxation and - of course - wine drinking. Miles is the oenophile and does his best to teach Jack a bit about the art of appreciating great wine. All Jack cares about is drinking and carousing, something he accomplishes when he meets the attractive Stephanie at one of the vineyards. Miles is something of a sad sack, a high school English teacher who is a failed writer at heart. He has yet to get over the fact that his wife has divorced him and that she has remarried and he now faces that nerve racking wait for word from a prospective publisher. Miles has an opportunity to start anew when he meets Stephanie's friend Maya but when he let's slip that Jack is about to be married any hope of a relationship seems to be lost. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some strong sexual content and nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason for the film's title is never explained in the film itself, but it is made quite clear in the novel on which the film is based, as the two main characters use the term "sideways" to mean "intoxicated." See more »

Goofs

As Miles and Jack drive from Los Angeles to Oxnard, the sun is shining in both sides of the car and shadows from the scenery to the right and left all fall on the road. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Miles Raymond: Fuck.
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Crazy Credits

Editorial Cat - Lulu See more »

Connections

Featured in Fuck (2005) See more »

Soundtracks

One Year After
Written and Performed by Uli Lenz
Courtesy of Arkadia Entertainment Corp.
By Arrangement with Position Music
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User Reviews

 
Giamatti was ROBBED!
25 January 2005 | by treedcubSee all my reviews

Sideways is a beautiful portrait of mid life disappointment. The backdrop is lovely California wine country, and the casting is flawless. Every single performance in this film is surprising, pitch perfect, and unusual. The movie has the remarkable ability to capture sadness and desperation in just the light that allows the audience to recognize the humor. The ending is satisfying but not too pat. In short, this is the best film of 2004.

The standout performance in the film was Paul Giamatti's. I cannot believe he was passed over for an Oscar this year. He should have been nominated for American Splendor, and he definitely should have been nominated for Sideways. His performance was beautiful, romantic, heartbreaking and so human. Paul Giamatti, ignore the Academy! Every year they have less credibility. The people who know films and acting at all know that you are one in a handful of truly great actors working in Hollywood today.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

USA | Hungary

Language:

English | Armenian | French

Release Date:

21 January 2005 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Sideways See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$16,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$207,042, 24 October 2004

Gross USA:

$71,503,593

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$109,706,931
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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