Sideways

On their trip through the Southern California Wine Country, the comically mismatched share numerous bottles of wine and meet up with women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen).  While Jack uses his female interest to bring back feelings of bachelorhood and youth, Miles can only be reminded of his divorce and the love he longs for when he is around a woman he is starting to feel for.  After days of Pinot Noir and romantic encounters, the pair has to sober up in time for the wedding and, as a result, become aware of the sobering reality of each of their lives.   

Sideways was directed by Alexander Payne, who wrote the screenplay with his partner Jim Taylor.  The film is based on the novel Sideways by Rex Pickett.  Payne and Taylor had recently won a Golden Globe for their screenplay of About Schmidt and were nominated for an Academy Award®, Independent Spirit Award, and Writers Guild of American Award for their adapted screenplay of the film Election.  Payne also directed Election which garnered him a Best Directing Independent Spirite Award. 

Paul Giamatti has previously been seen as the lead in the award winning film American Splendor and Thomas Haden Church is perhaps best known for his work on television’s “Wings” and “Ned and Stacy”.    Sideways was produced by Michael London, of Thirteen and House of Sand And Fog, with George Parra, director of such films as Legally Blonde 2 and About Schmidt, as co-producer.  Director of photography is Phedon Papamichael, editor is Kevin Tent, and production designer is Jane Ann Stewart.