Sideways

This article is about the film. For other uses, see Sideways (disambiguation).
Sideways

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alexander Payne
Produced by Michael London
Screenplay by Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Based on Sideways 
by Rex Pickett
Starring Paul Giamatti
Thomas Haden Church
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Music by Rolfe Kent
Cinematography Phedon Papamichael
Edited by Kevin Tent
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • September 13, 2004 (Toronto)
  • October 22, 2004 (US)
Running time
127 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $16 million
Box office $110 million

Sideways is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. A film adaptation from Rex Pickett's novel of the same name, Sideways follows two men in their forties, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to Santa Barbara County Wine Country.

Payne and Taylor won multiple awards for their screenplay. Giamatti and Church, as well as actresses Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh, playing local women who become romantically involved with the men, all received accolades for their performances.

Sideways won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and was nominated for four other awards including Best Picture.

Plot

Miles Raymond is an aspiring – but unsuccessful – writer, a wine aficionado and a divorced, depressed, borderline alcoholic middle-aged English teacher living in San Diego, who takes his soon-to-be-married actor friend and college roommate Jack Cole, on a road trip through Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Though still occasionally recognized, Jack's acting career appears to have peaked years ago, when he co-starred in a popular TV soap but now does commercial voice-overs and plans to enter his future father-in-law's successful real estate business after he's married. Miles wants to spend the week relaxing, golfing, enjoying good food and wine; however, much to Miles' consternation, Jack is on the prowl and wants one last sexual fling, before settling into domestic life.

In the wine country, the pair visit Miles' favorite restaurant, The Hitching Post II and meet Maya, an attractive waitress with whom Miles is casually acquainted. Jack senses that Maya is interested in Miles, who downplays his friend's intuition, and tells Jack that Maya is married. He tells Maya that Miles' manuscript has been accepted for publication, even though it is only being considered. Later, at a tasting in a local winery, they meet a pourer named Stephanie, who is also acquainted with Maya. Jack is immediately attracted to Stephanie and arranges a double date, to include Miles and Maya, and tells Miles that he learned Maya is no longer married ("sans rock", as he describes it). During the date, Miles gets drunk and telephones Vicki his ex-wife, after learning from Jack earlier that day that she has remarried. They return to Stephanie's home where Jack and Stephanie immediately adjourn to her bedroom, while Miles and Maya connect through their mutual interest in wine. Miles gives Maya a copy of his manuscript. As the week progresses, Jack's affair with Stephanie continues, to the point where he believes he's falling in love with her, he bonds with her daughter and makes the suggestion to Miles, that they move there for him to be closer to Stephanie. After spending the day together, Miles and Maya return to her apartment and have sex. The next day, Miles lets it slip that Jack is to be married. Disgusted with the dishonesty, Maya dumps Miles and tells Stephanie who, in a fit of jealous rage, breaks Jack's nose using her motorcycle helmet.

On finding out his manuscript has been rejected again, Miles causes a scene during a wine tasting and ends up trying to drink from the spit bucket. That night, with Stephanie gone, Jack hooks up with another waitress named Cammi, who recognized him from his acting career. Hours later, Jack shows up back at the motel room he shares with Miles – naked and confessing that Cammi's husband came home early while she and Jack were having sex. Jack explains he was forced to flee without his clothes and wallet (which contains the irreplaceable wedding rings). Jack convinces Miles to drive him back to Cammi's house and sneak inside, where he discovers Cammi and her husband making love. Miles spies Jack's wallet, grabs it and runs from the house, barely escaping Cammi's husband, pursuing him in the nude. To explain the broken nose to his fiancée, Jack runs Miles' convertible into a tree, giving the appearance they had been in an accident.

At the wedding, Miles runs into his ex-wife Vicki and meets her new husband. After learning that she is also pregnant, Miles faces the fact that Vicki will never return to him. Alone, he drinks his prized wine, a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc, from a disposable coffee cup at a fast-food restaurant and falls into an even deeper depression. Later, he receives a message from Maya, who says she enjoyed his manuscript and invites him to visit. The last scene in the movie shows Miles back in Santa Ynez, knocking on Maya's door.

Cast

Reception

The Hitching Post II Restaurant in Buellton where Miles and Jack first encounter Maya.

Time Out described the film as "intelligent, funny and moving",[1] and Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film four stars, saying: "what happens during the seven days adds up to the best human comedy of the year – comedy, because it is funny, and human, because it is surprisingly moving."[2] The review aggregator Metacritic gives Sideways a Metascore of 94%, signifying "universal acclaim".[3] The movie also holds a 96% rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with 215 positive reviews out of 223.[4]

A surprise hit, Sideways became popular in Hollywood, the US, and internationally. Santa Ynez Valley, where much of the film is set, attracted increased tourism. The film was nominated for dozens of awards, winning many, and was dubbed "the best reviewed movie of 2004".

With the exception of Giamatti, who had already starred in critically acclaimed films such as American Splendor, the film was a career breakthrough for the stars. Church and Madsen were each nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe Award, and Academy Award for their performances, winning the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and Independent Spirit Award for their respective categories. Giamatti has since been headlined as "The World's Best Character Actor" by Time magazine.[5] Sandra Oh—who has since broken up with the film's director, Alexander Payne—went on to star in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy, for which she won two Screen Actors Guild Awards and one Golden Globe Award.

Sideways was ranked 494th on Empire '​s 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time.[6]

Awards and nominations

Award Category Recipients and nominees Outcome
American Film Institute Awards 2004 AFI Movie of the Year Won
77th Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Picture Michael London Nominated
Academy Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Nominated
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Nominated
American Cinema Editors American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical Kevin Tent Nominated
Argentine Film Critics Association Best Foreign Film, Not in Spanish Language Alexander Payne Won
Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics Grand Prix Nominated
58th British Academy Film Awards BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Bodil Awards Bodil Award for Best American Film Alexander Payne Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2004 Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director Alexander Payne 2nd place
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Michael London Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Composer Rolfe Kent Nominated
Casting Society of America Artios Award for Best Feature Film Casting – Comedy John Jackson
Ellen Parks
Won
Central Ohio Film Critics Association Best Film 2nd place
Best Director Alexander Payne Won
Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
2nd place
Best Supporting Performance Thomas Haden Church Won
Best Ensemble Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
2nd place
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Czech Lion Best Foreign Language Film Alexander Payne Nominated
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film 2nd place
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association: Top 10 Films Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Directors Guild of America Awards 2004 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Alexander Payne Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 2004 Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
62nd Golden Globe Awards Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Michael London Won
Golden Globe Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Paul Giamatti Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Thomas Haden Church Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Virginia Madsen Nominated
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score Rolfe Kent Nominated
Gotham Awards Gotham Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
20th Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Award for Best Film Michael London Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Paul Giamatti Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Thomas Haden Church Won
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female Virginia Madsen Won
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards 2004 Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
London Film Critics Circle Awards 2004 London Film Critics Circle Award for Film of the Year Alexander Payne Won
London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year Nominated
London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year Paul Giamatti Nominated
London Film Critics Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti 2nd place
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
National Board of Review Awards 2004 National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards 2004 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film Alexander Payne 2nd place
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
2004 New York Film Critics Circle Awards New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2004 Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture Alexander Payne Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards 2004 Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture Michael London Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards 2004 Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Won
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score Rolfe Kent Won
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2004 San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Golden Satellite Awards 2004 Satellite Award for Best Film Musical or Comedy Alexander Payne Won
Satellite Award for Best Director Nominated
Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Paul Giamatti Nominated
Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Nominated
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Thomas Haden Church Won
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Virginia Madsen Nominated
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Won
11th Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Paul Giamatti Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Thomas Haden Church Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Virginia Madsen Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Thomas Haden Church
Paul Giamatti
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Won
Seattle Film Critics Awards Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Seattle Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association: Top 10 Films Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Director Alexander Payne Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti 2nd place
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Won
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
USC Scripter Award USC Scripter Award Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2004 Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film Alexander Payne Won
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Paul Giamatti Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2004 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Thomas Haden Church Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Virginia Madsen Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards 2004 Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Alexander Payne
Jim Taylor
Won

Impact on wine industry

Throughout the film, Miles speaks fondly of the red wine varietal Pinot noir, while denigrating Merlot.[7][8] Following the film's U.S. release in October 2004, Merlot sales dropped 2% while Pinot noir sales increased 16% in the Western United States. A similar trend occurred in British wine outlets.[8][9] Other reports also claimed anecdotally that sales of Merlot dropped after the film's release.[10][10][11][12][13] A 2009 study by Sonoma State University found that Sideways slowed the growth in Merlot sales volume and caused its price to fall, but the film's main effect on the wine industry was a rise in the sales volume and price of Pinot noir, and in overall wine consumption.[14]

Soundtrack

Sideways
Soundtrack album by Rolfe Kent
Released 12 October 2004
Recorded 2004
Genre Soundtrack
Length 37:24
Label New Line Records
Producer Rolfe Kent
Rolfe Kent chronology

Mean Girls
(2001)
Sideways
(2004)
The Last Shot
(2004)

The original soundtrack album features 15 jazz instrumentals composed and produced by Rolfe Kent and was orchestrated and arranged for the band by Tony Blondal. The album was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Score", and the music so popular there was demand for a national tour. Eventually a few cities were chosen to perform in as the composer was too busy to commit to more.

  1. "Asphalt Groovin'" – 4:00
  2. "Constantine Snaps His Fingers" – 3:03
  3. "Drive!" – 3:56
  4. "Picnic" – 2:15
  5. "Lonely Day" – 1:40
  6. "Wine Safari" – 2:13
  7. "Miles' Theme" – 2:59
  8. "Los Olivos" – 2:43
  9. "Chasing the Golfers" – 3:03
  10. "Walk to Hitching Post" – 2:32
  11. "Abandoning the Wedding" – 3:25
  12. "Slipping Away As Mum Sleeps" – 1:00
  13. "Bowling Tango" – 0:49
  14. "I'm Not Drinking Any #@%!$ Merlot!" – 1:13
  15. "Miles And Maya" – 2:26

Remake

Fox International Productions and Fuji TV released a Japanese-language remake of the film in October 2009,[15] often referred to in English as Saidoweizu (the anglicization of its Japanese title). The film is directed by Cellin Gluck and stars Katsuhisa Namase, Fumiyo Kohinata, Kyōka Suzuki, and Rinko Kikuchi, and has a soundtrack composed and performed by Hawaiian-born ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro.

The remake shifts the setting of the film to Napa Valley. Although listed as an executive producer, Payne was not involved with the remake, although he gave it his blessing.[16] Giamatti declined an invitation to appear in an unspecified cameo appearance in the film.[17]

Possible sequel

Pickett wrote a sequel to his novel, Vertical, in 2011, following Miles and Jack on a road trip to Oregon with Miles's mother. However, Payne has declined to consider a sequel to the film. Fox Searchlight owns the rights to the characters, but Payne's lack of interest makes the film a non-starter for Fox.[18]

See also

References

  1. "Time Out London". Timeout.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  2. Chicago Sun Times by Roger Ebert.
  3. "Sideways" at metacritic.com.
  4. "Sideways Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  5. "The World's Best Character Actor". Time. 2005-05-31. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  6. "Empire Features". Empireonline.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  7. Reynolds, Julia (2006-08-13). "Going Ape For Grape: Annual event celebrates all things wine". Monterey County Herald.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Harlow, John (2006-03-06). "Oscar winner knocks sales of merlot wine sideways". The Sunday Times.
  9. Simon, Joanna (2006-06-04). "Sauce". Food & Drink (The Sunday Times). p. 47.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Valdespino, Anne (2007-07-25). "Don't forgo Merlot: The wine's popularity has declined, but it can still be a foundation for a tantalizing tasting party". The Orange County Register.
  11. Asimov, Eric (2006-12-13). "Panned on Screen, Merlot Shrugs And Moves On". Dining & Wine (New York Times). pp. F10. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  12. Murphy, Patsey (2005-08-13). "California dream". Irish Times.
  13. Stimmell, Gordon (2007-03-17). "More to merlot, you know". Arts (Toronto Star). pp. H07.
  14. Cuellar, Steven S. (January 2009). "The 'Sideways' Effect A test for changes in the demand for Merlot and Pinot Noir wines". Wines & Vines.
  15. "'Sideways' gets Japanese remake". Variety.com. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  16. ‘Sideways’ Returns, Uncorked for Japan
  17. Martin, Peter (2009-03-30). "Paul Giamatti Kinda Trashes Japanese Remake of 'Sideways'". Cinematical.com. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  18. Mercer, Chris. "Sideways 2 film unlikely, says author". Decanter.com. http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/530155/sideways-2-film-could-be-in-doubt-says-author. Retrieved June 1, 2014.

External links