Sideways

Name: Sideways
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: October 22, 2004
Duration: 126 min
Rating: 94
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen

2004

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 42 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 481 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 481 Ratings

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Sideways

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Movie Details & Credits

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 22, 2004

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen

Summary: Two old friends set off on a wine-tasting road trip...only to veer dizzily sideways into a wry, comedic exploration of the crazy vicissitudes of love and friendship, the damnable persistence of loneliness and dreams and the enduring war between Pinot and Cabernet. [Fox Searchlight Pictures]

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 126 min

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Awards & Rankings

1	#1 Best Movie of 2004
3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
11	#11 Most Shared Movie of 2004

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

The Hollywood Reporter - Kirk Honeycutt

Hysterically funny yet melancholy comedy. Read full review

100

New York Post - Megan Lehmann

A sublime variation on the buddy road movie, infusing the midlife crises of the two main protagonists with hope and poetry. Read full review

100

Miami Herald - Rene Rodriguez

What makes it the best movie of the year -- is its insight into human behavior. Read full review

100

Premiere - Glenn Kenny

Every performance here is wonderful, and the movie abounds in moments so true as to be cringe-worthy. Read full review

Slate - David Edelstein

A warm, ingratiating, and fitfully hilarious epicurean road movie with a steady ache-an ache like a red-wine hangover. Read full review

The New Yorker - David Denby

In this role Giamatti gives his bravest, most generously humane performance yet. Women may be repelled, but men will know this man, because, at one time or another, many of us have been this man. Read full review

Salon - Charles Taylor

Alexander Payne's new movie, Sideways, makes you feel like you're trapped at dinner with a wiseass who's trying to convince you what a sensitive guy he is. Read full review

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User Reviews

PhilipJ.

Dec 11, 2005

Original and entertaining, i can't see why people give this film below 6.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NeilF

Oct 19, 2009

Life-affirming. Anyone who doesn't get it has a black hole where their heart should be.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Scraper

Dec 28, 2011

Giamatti's character's dimensions are written with such care that it makes him tangible and engaging. He's both fragile and explosive. When set against Haden Church's aging jock it creates a great story with a Laurel & Hardy quality to it. What I liked though is that looks at love wereGiamatti's character's dimensions are written with such care that it makes him tangible and engaging. He's both fragile and explosive. When set against Haden Church's aging jock it creates a great story with a Laurel & Hardy quality to it. What I liked though is that looks at love were highly imperfect but still had real consequences. Jennifer Aniston is not in this film. The actors are believable. I was able to want to believe them, right or wrong, for better or worse.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

FilipeM

Oct 19, 2009

Actually, it's a 6.5! Totally overrated by critics, if I'd seen the movie without reading the reviews, I'd give it a 8, but I got very disappointed for a 94 metarating. The type of movie that doesn't have funny jokes, but funny storylines. If you want to watch because Actually, it's a 6.5! Totally overrated by critics, if I'd seen the movie without reading the reviews, I'd give it a 8, but I got very disappointed for a 94 metarating. The type of movie that doesn't have funny jokes, but funny storylines. If you want to watch because you're depressed, you'll just get bored to hell.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JohnA

Jan 6, 2006

This film reminded me of classic literature that critics claim is not to be missed. Sure, if you are looking to study character development and then talk about it in your film club later. I was simply looking to be entertained. Sideways provided some very funny moments but was far more workThis film reminded me of classic literature that critics claim is not to be missed. Sure, if you are looking to study character development and then talk about it in your film club later. I was simply looking to be entertained. Sideways provided some very funny moments but was far more work and not enough entertainment.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TimA

Sep 14, 2008

Firstly for a comedy this is not funny. The acting is wooden and somehow makes you feel rather distant from the film. The whole wine tasting theme through the film is so pretentious and psuedo classy. Avoid

0 of 1 users found this helpful

jasonpotts

Nov 18, 2004

I could only wish to have had bowel cramps during the scence in which Maya and Miles talk about wine. That would have given me an excuse to escape to the bathroom and not listen to two contrived, altogther obvious, and decidedly unerotic rambles in which an extended metaphor is run intoI could only wish to have had bowel cramps during the scence in which Maya and Miles talk about wine. That would have given me an excuse to escape to the bathroom and not listen to two contrived, altogther obvious, and decidedly unerotic rambles in which an extended metaphor is run into exhaustion. For the record, I thought _Election_ was terrific, but none of the sharpness of that movie is apparent here. And I'll spare you what I think of those of you who continue to try to review the reviewers on this site rather than the movie itself … Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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