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.

THEATRICAL RELEASE: OCTOBER 20, 2004

This film screened as part of the 42nd New York Film Festival sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

DVD Features:

Letterbox - 1.85
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Surround - Spanish & French
Additional Release Material:
Behind the Scenes
Deleted Scenes: 7 Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary: Paul Giamatti - Star & Thomas Haden Church - Stars
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Hidden Features: Easter Eggs

Paul Giamatti: 
Thomas Haden Church: American actor, WINGS, SIDEWAYS
Virginia Madsen: American actress, SIDEWAYS
Sandra Oh: Canadian film and TV actress
M.C. Gainey: Actor
Marylouise Burke: Actress, SERIES 7 (2001)
Jessica Hecht: ACTRESS

Alexander Payne: Director/Screenwriter

Michael London: Producer, THE GURU (2003)

Jim Taylor: SCREENWRITER/2U DIRECTOR
Alexander Payne: Director/Screenwriter

"This is a building-block movie: Its stand-out excellence becomes apparent only gradually..."
"[A]s a painful, uproarious story of humanity, this is a perfectly contained cinematic experience."
Ranked #5 in Uncut's Best Films Of 2005 -- "It's a heartbreaking study of life, loves and second chances, beautifully performed by the two leads."
"[O]ne of the most incisive movies ever made about the intricacies of male bonding."
"SIDEWAYS is a thoughtful, comic road movie about people going through some kind of breakdown."
"[A] completely satisfying movie that quietly, gently blows you away. Exactly written, directed with a surgeon's precision and transcendently acted, SIDEWAYS brings emotional reality to a consistently amusing character comedy."
"[The film] fuses bracing wit and emotional gravity into something funny, touching and vital....Pure movie bliss."
"It's an intoxicating feeling when a movie excites and enlivens us like this..."
"[T]he most likeable and affecting film that Payne has yet made."