Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1686 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-16
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 122 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 in 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

Synopsis
Following ABOUT SCHMIDT and ELECTION, Alexander Payne once again focuses on the comedy of personal tragedy in the hilarious and poignant SIDEWAYS. Paul Giamatti (AMERICAN SPLENDOR) plays Miles, the film's antihero, a failed author and self-defeatist who still pines for his ex-wife, who divorced him years before. Meanwhile, Miles's old friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) is getting married, and the two set off on a bachelors' road trip through California wine country. While Miles looks forward to male bonding over the best bottles the vineyards can offer, Jack is a playful philanderer who just wants to get laid. Thus, this fortysomething odd couple find themselves in conflict, leading to a chaotic week of disagreements, miscast romance with some local women (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh), and eventually, total meltdown. Payne's artistic direction and excellent character construction will have viewers reeling with laughter, while also feeling true compassion for these two easy-to-read buddies. The film offers beautiful photography of the California countryside, some unique insight into the wine industry, and a soundtrack featuring tunes by Luna, Pat Travers, Bonnie Raitt, and others. Viewers will come away from SIDEWAYS with a smile on their faces, and a thirst for a nice glass of Pinot Noir.

Customer Reviews

if I could rate this zero stars then I would
sideways has recieved many good reviews but i must write this as a warning to anybody thinking of buying this film. the characters are completely unlikable. Miles, the central character, although clearly wounded by a life full of regrets, remains grumpy, pedantic and quite frankly much too self indulgent and self-pitying for us to feel any affection for him. the wine chat which initially sparks some interest as it makes nice use of adjective prose quite quickly becomes dull and pretentious. wine chat also is not sexy and there is a particularly clumsy scence where this becomes painfully obvious.I generally like films which explore sensitive and gentle charcters but this was a terrible diasapointment and if i had the choice again i would save my four pounds. and i promise im not a miserable sod, well i was a bit after watching this film, but not in general.

Wine and Golf interesting? erh yes...
Two floored characters, a teacher and an actor, go on a week's holiday of wine and golf to "kickback" before one gets wed. It sounds a so/so premis and when my partner chose it for an evening's viewing I huffed and moaned audibly thinking of a hundred other jobs needing doing.

Of course I was wrong.

Hilarious in parts, deeply sad in others, the acting is superb the script is of the kind that can be watched again and again. Giamtti and Hayden-Church are brilliant double act. Giamatti the depressive "Neg-Head" teacher, Hayden Church the self-centerd actor.

Catch the commentary by the two actors too. Great Fun.

Real soul and emotion
Miles Raymond: "This week is not about me. It is about you. I'm gonna show you a good time. We're gonna drink a lot of good wine. We're gonna play some golf. We're gonna eat some great food and enjoy the scenery and we are going to send you off in style, mon frere."
Jack: "And get your bone smooched".


Sideways is a low-budget, Sunday afternoon movie that will put a smile on your face. The story is simple: wine-loving wannabe writer Miles (Paul Giamatti) is taking failed actor Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a week-long tour of California's wine region to celebrate his old friend's upcoming marriage. But while Miles wants to relax, drink and play golf, Jack is determined to get laid one last time before settling down. Their adventures make for a charming, moving comedy about friendship, love and regret.


"You need to get your joint worked on Miles," says Jack, showing just how different these two characters are: the crass actor and the sensitive writer, linked by being roommates at college, but by little else these days. Viewers will probably identify with one or the other, but the beauty of the script is that these are rounded, believable people with recognisable failings and strengths - one is not superior than the other.


So, while Jack is a bit dim, crude, and thinks largely with his crotch, he's also enthusiastic, loyal and embraces life. And while Miles is funny, clever, and knowledgeable, he is also timid, drink-dependent, and crippled by insecurity ("I'm so insignificant I can't even kill myself...").

Giamatti is a fine actor, but the revelation here is Haden Church, he's gifted terrific lines by writer/director Alexander Payne, but gives his part great heart too. Because for all the laughs, there's real soul and emotion here; a sparkling blend that slips down a treat.