Sideways (2004)
FREQUENT COARSE LANGUAGE, SEX SCENES, SEXUAL REFERENCES, ALCOHOL AND DEPRESSION THEMES
Two men go on an excursion and end up inducing mid-life crises in this comedy-drama. Pinot Noir lover Miles (Paul Giamatti) convinces friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) to enjoy his last days of bachelorhood with a wine country road trip. Miles tries to teach Jack about wine, but Jack just wants a final fling. The pair get involved with two women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen) and inevitably come face to face with their past and their present.
| Status: | LongWait |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 123mins |
| Origin: | HUNGARY |
| Aspect Ratio: |
If you like this, try these:
Member Reviews (87)
87 Member
Reviews
Gail
says
I did not consider this worth persevering with
Liz
says
One of the best movies I have ever seen, not because it is brilliant throughout but because it has flavours throughout that enveloped me and still linger today. One of the most poignant scenes I have ever witnessed is the one where Giamatti describes the fragility of Pinot Noir grape and the very specific conditions it requires for survival, an obvious and touching self reference. Like a lovely glass of wine that lingers on the palette.....
Nigel W
says
A couple of old school mates go on a wine tour before one of them is to get married. An odd couple scenario with love interest thrown in. Wry and observational this comedy manages to engage in a pleasant and subtle way. 3.5 stars
trinx
says
This did not hit the mark for us, as I remembered it had previously. The funny scenes had lost their edge, and the poignant scenes left us flat. Still, great insight into 'respectable' alcoholism and also depression.
CJ
says
Loved it, bought it for a mate who's into wine, great movie, sure it has it's ups and downs but I thought it was great.
Matthew B.
says
I fail to see what everyone saw in this film. I gave it an hour and turned it off. So shoot me!
Bridget.
says
Low key and quietly amusing. Definitely worth watching .Pity the disc was skipping especially near beginning and end.
PK
says
The film semi-successfully demonstrates the friendship of two dissimilar individuals and bundles it with an over indulgence of ‘wine speak’ and tastings. How two such people remain friends through life seems too staged for my liking. The right of passage that Paul Giamatti takes is plausible and is likely a true reflection of a divorced male in who is not lofty in social circles or successful in his career.. The film displayed a hollow body, left a dry aftertaste in my mouth. Best to leave this one in the cellar. Average at best.
John N.
says
Alexander Payne has now directed two movies that are supposed to be comedies but fail to connect: 'About Schmidt', with Jack Nicholson, and this one, with Paul Giametti. Two guys, approaching middle age, are on a road-trip visiting vineyards for some wine-tasting and to celebrate the immanent marriage of one of them. But all he is thinking about is getting laid before the big event, preferably with one of the barmaids or waitresses they encounter en route. As they progress across California they argue and go-on-about their hang-ups like a couple of adolescents. With 40 minutes gone and there being little prospect of anything much happening, the thought of sitting through another hour and 20 minutes of boredom was too awful to contemplate.
Carmel
says
Liked this movie, recommend it. It's a realistic approach on what life is like for some in their 40's who find it difficult to get their life back after a divorce and another who is losing his freedom by getting married and what they get up to.
Elke
says
3 1/2 stars......both of those charakters you'll come across at least once in your life......very much enjoyed watching.
Peter F.
says
Don't get this movie 'cos the critics say it's great...it's not..some funny bits but an overindulgence in sprouting wines and their characteristics..a 7/10 from me vino lovers!
Susan
says
Wonderful, humorous film marred only by the extremely poor quality of the quickflix dvd...
Karen
says
A nice blend of subtle humour and pathos. Paul Giamatti is absolutely wonderful in this.
Bradley W.
says
Excruciating. This film is painful to sit through. The main character, Miles, is a complete bore, a pretentious wine snob, and that sets the tone for this film.
2 hours of my life that I'll never get back.
Give it a miss.
Jade P.
says
A overrated waste of time. Nothing original or particularly funny here.
Lanna
says
A little slow at first, but typical of this genre of movie. I thought it was slightly misogynistic (Church's character got away with murder really), but Giamatti's character gave the movie legs. A must for wine buffs also.
Mike W.
says
lots of fun...what not to do on the week before your wedding....great cast of unknowns...lots of wine talk....great scene towards the end when our hero goes to retrieve the wallet!! see it.
Steven K.
says
If you know wine, this will interest you. The human story is more captivating though. Film could have been a bit shorter perhaps.
Deborah H.
says
Simply brilliant film. Recommended.
Paul U.
says
One of the 10 best movies made so far this millenium. Refreshingly original.
Daphne C.
says
bit slow but a good laugh in places, worth watching
Lorraine W.
says
Alison A.
says
mu
says
Not my sort of film,expected it to be a lot funnier,& Miles I found to be sooo depressing I wanted to shake him. Dropped off to sleep a couple of times.
Chris D.
says
Ignore the first hour, fast forward through it. It is long, slow and unlovely.
Jaqui H.
says
Bit quirky with some comedic moments.
Rob
says
SLOW??? I've seen faster glaciers! The story was so predictable & boring. The blokes were a couple of dills & the only part I liked was when the Chinese girl beat up the wannabe boyfriend with her bike helmet. If she had done that at the start we could have all gone to bed for an early night. Don't bother.
Iainie
says
Although it has a slow beginning, I really enjoyed this movie. The characters are engaging (although not particularly likeable), the scenery to die for, and the storyline has a lot more to it than what you first think. I thought the music was spot-on as it blended perfectly with the roadtrip through the vineyards. Yes, the ending was a bit abrupt, but gives you enough so that you can really draw your own conclusions. A film for both sexes.
Pamela S.
says
Jo W.
says
Linda T.
says
Thelma and Louise find their masculine side, without driving off the edge of the canyon; although one of them lives dangerously in his treatment of women, and the other is just soft.
Vimala V.
says
I. K.
says
Christina R.
says
Boring and depressing. Great travelogue for the California wine country. Beautiful scenery. That's about all it had going for it.
Troy M.
says
If you love wine and a laugh, then treat yourself to this movie
Kerry R.
says
ErlinS.
says
Well paced movie with interesting story line, entertaining and relaxing to watch at the same time. Wine lovers is a bonus, splurge yourself a good glass when u watch it
Chris K.
says
I hated this movie from the start; the lounge lizard music, the Saab convertible, the pretentious wine crap. But of course it had to go somewhere and it did. Whether it achieved anything by doing so I'm not sure.
I didn't see anything special in the acting, the direction meandered, and I didn't care about either of the male characters. Maybe the whole wine subtext was deeply metaphorical and I missed it completely. I don't know what any woman would see in it, and maybe for us males it depends on whether you are a Jack or a Miles. Me, I'm sadly a Miles and he bored the crap out of me.
No. sorry. Not for me.
Alexander D.
says
A winos romp thru America's vinyards, wine tasting & explanations on how some wines and grapes are treated. The main storyline seems to be incidental. I drink some wine, BUT, this was not for my taste.
Emma J.
says
Luisa E.
says
Storyline kept you entertained. Break open a bottle of red before starting to watch this.
Jeffrey B.
says
Rosalina M.
says
Sara M.
says
A great film enjoyed with a glass of red wine !
Alan M.
says
Peter S.
says
Annoying characters behaving particularly badly, though amusing at times.
Janet B.
says
What an awful film! Dull performances, unlikeable characters - a complete disappointment.
JamesFrangi
says
Almost going to say pathetic. Poor plot, loose storyline of two jerks, one who is to be married in week's time and the other divorced for two years going round wine tasting, drinking and conning chicks. Unless you've got all the time in the world, this is certainly not recommended.
Polly W.
says
Worth watching but a little flimsy on the storyline.
Wayne F.
says
Excellent. Very entertaining.
Catriona C.
says
I wanted to see this when it first came out but missed it. Two men take a trip together both with their own conceptions of what the trip is about, both with their baggage and the twists and turns the movie takes.
Louise A.
says
Lynne T.
says
Logan B.
says
Sacha W.
says
lynnie
says
A fantastic film! It centres around the bucks road trip with two friends who don't seem at all suited. A couple of scenes at the end of the film had us in stitches.
Melanie K.
says
Sarah S.
says
Anthony B.
says
rak
says
A bit slow - has some funny parts but it took a while to warm to the characters.
Karen M.
says
Alex P.
says
Rebecca B.
says
Fun to watch wine tour - make sure you have a glass handy....
Michelle P.
says
We really enjoyed this "Buddy-road-trip-in-mid-life-crisis" movie
Quirky, real charachters, laugh-out-loud humourous moments and scathingly accurate scripting!
There's a hint of irony too as Miles tells Maya why he likes Pinot - he's describing himself rather than a fine wine.
A finely studied character piece, reminiscent of Neil Simon and worth a closer look.
Alex P.
says
Steve N.
says
Pretty slow in parts. Not sure why they dragged it out to 2 hours.
Christine C.
says
Susan M.
says
Ok but nothing to rave about
Katarina F.
says
CM
says
Boring. All about men and wine. Maybe it's good if you're a 50 year old wine lover.
Greg O.
says
Graham R.
says
Funny yet poignant. Humour with depth. You'll rush out for a bottle of pinot noir after this one.
Carrie M.
says
Great flick
Simon A.
says
If you like wine you will love this movie - If you don't like wine you will love this movie too...it's a fun romp through a midlife crisis and made on very slim budget one cannot help but be impressed! See it! It will give you something to talk about over a bottle of fine wine!
Brian G.
says
Outstanding! Excellent story line built around wine appreciation. The luscious backdrop of vines, and mouth watering photography was excellent Highly entertaining comedy piece, with first class acting performances. My only criticisms: Why did the actors continually wrap their fingers around the wine glasses, to leave finger prints and smears to mask the assessment of wine clarity? Then there was the key actor drinking his precious "61" out of a polystyrene cup. I don't think so! Blasphemy! But overall the movie was marvellous entertainment; I hope to view "Sideways" again at a later stage.
Margaret F.
says
A great movie - very quirky!
Greg W.
says
An endearing, funny, wise film about friendship, love and wine. One of the year's -and director Alex Payne's -absolute best.
Paul M.
says
Awesome direction.
Maurice .
says
I like the acting style of Paul Giamatti but he has been in better than this
franksting
says
loving it, down to earth and funny . who said americans couldn't do wit
Alan R.
says
Miranda C.
says
Tahli G.
says
While I enjoyed it, the movie was a little long and the features were not particularly exciting.
Ron
says
Not much of a story, more of a travel promotion for California wineries. You could almost like the rogue, Jack, at least he added a little humour
Jan S.
says
Dan MS
says
As is typical of Alexander Payne's directing, it is the story of an average guy struggling with his current life challenges. Paul Giamatti deserves the praise he is getting for this movie - he is fantastic as the lovable loser-in-love wine snob. Thomas Hayden Church is also great as the philandering has-been actor. Plenty of hilarious suprises and brutal life-affirming honesty make Sideways one to watch out for.