"This is a perfect movie. There are absolutely no false moments in any scene in this picture. "
David Kaplan KAPLAN vs KAPLAN
"A brilliant exploration of life, longing and second chances."
Jeanne Aufmuth, PALO ALTO WEEKLY
"A smart and delightful romantic comedy."
Marjorie Baumgarten AUSTIN CHRONICLE
"Sideways is one of those films that’s a bit too good to review: It strikes a unique tone, blends a bit of tall-tale fun with everyday life, and pretty much hits every note in your psyche."
Tom Long DETROIT NEWS
"From its first minutes, maybe even from the credits, you know you are seeing something very special."
Terry Lawson DETROIT FREE PRESS
"The people seem real, the restaurants feel as if you could just walk right in ... and the homes are messy and lived-in. Payne captures his locations with honesty."
Jeffrey Chen REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS
"A deeply human comedy about people fumbling their way toward love."
Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS
"Never betrays the longing for love and friendship that makes it both painful and painfully funny."
Bruce Newman SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
"Wildly funny and surprisingly edgy."
Rex Reed NEW YORK OBSERVER
"If Sideways were a wine, its foretaste would be a flutter of nuttiness, its middle would have spicy nuances, and its aftertaste would be lingering and sweet."
Carrie Rickey PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
The Inside Story
"Pot-bellied, squat and hairy-backed, Paul Giamatti is nobody's idea of a conventional screen idol, yet he may be the most watchable leading man in movies today." John Beifuss COMMERCIAL APPEAL MEMPHIS
From the writer/director of "About Schmidt comes this gloriously wonderful film that has captured the imagination of everyone. From critics, to cinema-goers, the Golden Globes and now the Academy Awards, "Sideways" is on everyones lips. And deservedly so, for this is indeed a rich, often hilariously funny, romantic tale of two buddies spending a week in wine country savouring the pleasures of eating, drinking and love. It's a film that thrives on its characters of which there are four; Miles a year eight teacher who is still getting over his divorce; Jack a washed up actor who now does voice-overs; Maya a waitress recently divorced and Stephanie, an attractive single mum who works at a local winery looking after tastings. Two-time Oscar® nominee Alexander Payne says from that very first moment in 1999 when he read Rex Pickett's novel Sideways he was "immediately drawn to their tale." He admits that what drew him in was the setting for the story [Santa Barbara County's intimate wine tasting rooms ] and the absurd humanity of it. "I am most moved by stories like "Sideways" that are about human beings and human nature, that are about flawed people and ambiguous moments that don't necessarily come to any neat closure," Payne said. "Perhaps too many films in this current era have eschewed humanity for slickness. I'm interested in revitalizing the American cinema of the 70s, with its emphasis on real people and real struggles, and I think we desperately need human movies right now." Like everyone who sees the film, the characters Pickett has created are just superb. "The characters of Miles and Jack are kind of throwbacks themselves. They're living in the past; Jack with his washed-up career and Miles with his failed marriage and dreams of being a writer. It's as if the rest of the world has moved on without them, but suddenly they're faced with the prospect of having to get on with their lives, and to me, that is both funny and serious." So where did the inspirational source for these characters come from? A wine tasting trip Pickett himself took some years ago. "I found myself introducing my friend to wine and telling him all these crazy stories," Pickett recalls. "As we got a little more looped, I was cracking up my friend and he said 'you should write about this.' I jokingly told him I would write something called 'Two Guys on Wine!' But when I came back, I knew I had to start writing about these two characters: Jack, who was based on my friend, and Miles, who is based loosely on me." Now here's the catch. When Pickett started writing, it was a screenplay based on his ideas, not a novel that he worked on. When it seemed it wasn't working out, he then wrote the novel. Later he gave an early draft of the screenplay to long-time friend and producer Michael London. He immediately realized that this was material Alexander Payne would be interested in. "Alexander loves flawed characters," London explained. "I knew he would like the idea of two guys who go to such an idyllic place on what should be a very happy trip only to find pain and misery as a result of their self-induced misadventures. And I had a feeling that Alexander would be able to take these wonderful characters and add even more depth and humanity to them." He was right.
Payne went to work with co-writer Jim Taylor. "This was probably the easiest adaptation we've ever done," he said. "We drew a lot of the language from the book, because Rex already has such a cinematic way of writing." Of course working on a script about wine you would expect that a bit of research would be needed. "I drank a lot of wine in the making of this film," admits Payne. "I went up to Santa Barbara County and met many winemakers and got to know as many of the wines as I could. I really fell in love with the area's beauty and I knew that I really wanted the film to get that part of things right. I always wanted "Sideways" to be a bit of a love letter to the wine country as well as a portrait of these two guys." The finished script attracted a lot of attention, especially from some of Hollywoods powerful players who lobbied Payne for parts in the film. Payne resisted the temptation and once you see "Sideways" you'll be ever so glad he did. . "I have nothing against movie stars," Payne revealed, "but I wanted this film to give the impression that real life is being mirrored on screen. That can't easily be done with impossibly beautiful and famous stars." Now all he had to do was find the right players. First to be found was Paul Giamatti. "I had an immediate sense that Paul was very, very right for the role," says Payne. "I think the best actors are the ones who always surprise you with something you never would have expected, thought of or imagined. Every day on the set, Paul would surprise us in some way and it was wonderful to watch him become Miles." Thomas Haden Church got an invitation from Payne to audition for the role of Jack. "Once I saw him audition, I just couldn't imagine anyone else in the part. His humor, his craggy and handsome looks, his goofiness and the fact that he also had a lot of experience in TV, all had an interesting crossover with the character." Giamatti and Church really hit it off says producer George Parra. "Half-way through the first day they didn't want to leave the car and all you could hear was laughing and joke telling. It was like they'd known each other for 20 years." Actress Virginia Madsen got the part of Maya partly thanks to her eyes. "Virginia's incredibly beautiful, lovely, warm and genuine and these are all very important qualities for Maya", Michael London explained. "Her soulful and authentic warmth is what made the chemistry work immediately with Paul's character. You could see how, given this particular set of circumstances, she could really feel his heartache and pain." Three down and one to go! The person who was just right for this part also happened to be Paynes wife Sandra Oh. "Sandra's so free-spirited as an actress that you can believe she's impulsive and wild and enough of a lost soul that she would fall in love with Jack," London notes. "And yet, you really get tremendous pleasure when she learns the truth and takes out her anger on Jack." But hang on there. We don't want to reveal too much. Now do we? Do yourself a huge, huge favour and get yourself along to the nearest cinema screening "Sideways. You'll be thoroughly entertained and you'll understand why everyone is raving about this 'gem' of a film.
The South Australian Connection
Mike Brown is a worldly kind of guy. He's come all around the world - or at least halfway, from Australia to California - to make wine in Santa Barbara County. Why? Because the surf is great in his part of the world and the Santa Barbara County is one of the most progressive and fast moving winemaking regions in the country. He wanted a piece of all that. Mike's first job in the wine business was pulling shoots off the vines in the vineyard his father owned in the sweltering regions of the Riverland in South Australia. He decided he hated it and swore he'd never go near a vineyard again. Well, some things change, luckily. After picking up degrees in Microbiology and Pharmacology from the University of Adelaide, Mike attended the premier school for winemakers at UC Davis and picked up his Masters of Science in Enology and Viticulture. Then the adventure began. The beaches and breaks of the Santa Barbara coastline beckoned and Mike found himself working his first job at Los Vineros in Santa Maria. Being a winemaker in California gives a guy the chance to work in Australia in the off season, and that's what Mike did for the next few years. He jetted back and forth, studying and investigating the latest in winemaking practices and technological advances that Australia was gaining a healthy reputation in. After literally working two jobs on two continents, Mike settled down in Santa Barbara, starting at Zaca Mesa and then becoming winemaker for the Santa Ynez Valley Winery. In 1989 Mike decided to create his own label "KALYRA". The name being a translation from the Australian Aboriginal meaning.."a wild and pleasant place". The philosophy behind these wines is that good wine should be a direct reflection of the fruit used and that it should highlight the distinct varietal characteristics of the regions it came from.
For the full story and to visit KALYRA WINES click here
What It's All About
"With the skillfully framed, beautifully written, delicately acted Sideways, Alexander Payne may just have found his golden ticket to Oscar glory." Kit Bowen HOLLYWOOD.COM
Miles Raymond is a year eight middle school English teacher with aspirations of becoming a published writer. Jack is about to be married. As his gift to his best friend, Miles takes Jack to the Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Here they can check out the local wineries, taste wines, eat well, play golf and enjoy Jacks last week of freedom. But like everything in Miles's life, it always beomes complicated and messy. Like his divorce. Hell man, he's still seeing a shrink two years later. And when it comes to self esteem miles has hit rock bottom. He sees himself as just another pasture animal heading for the abattoir. Now Miles may have made plans, but all Jack wants to do is get Miles laid and have one good time. Life takes a turn for both men when, while at a winery, Jack hits on Stephanie who just happens to know a waitress named Maya who for some reason is attracted to Miles. It's the catalyst for a few frenetic days that will change their lives forever. Miles is about to discover there is more to life than wine, while Jack will have to decide on his future .
The Verdict
"What can one say when a film is this good. Winner of two Golden Globe awards and nominated in the 2005 Academy Awards "Sideways" is a winner and a film you can see again and again, it's that good. Watching "Sideways" is like snugling up with a good book, a damn good wine and just getting lost in the moment. It's a pity Paul Giamatti didn't get a nod in this years race for Oscar. Giamatti has shown yet again what an accomplished, quality and believable actor he is. Highly Recommended."
Casting About
"SIDEWAYS" stars .......
Paul Giamatti ["Saving Private Ryan", "Planet of the Apes", "Big Fat Liar", "American Splendor", "Paycheck" and "Confidence"]; Thomas Haden Church ["Tombstone", "One Night Stand", "Lone Star State of Mind" and "Spanglish"]; Virginia Madsen ["Dune", "The Rainmaker", "The Haunting" and "American Gun"]; Sandra Oh ["Guinevere", "Big Fat Liar", "Under The Tuscan Sun" and "8 Minutes to Love"]; Marylouise Burke ["Meet Joe Black", "Urbania", "Something for Henry" and "The Warrior Class"]; Jessica Hecht ["Kicking and Screaming", "Anarchy TV", "Seven Girlfriends" and "The Forgotten"]; Missy Doty ["Little Heroes 2"]; M C Gainey ["The Fan", "Con Air", "Happy, Texas", "The Haunting", "The Cooler" and "Wonderland"] and Patrick Gallagher ["Moving Target", "Apocalypse II: Revelation", "Tribulation", "The House Next Door" and "Walking Tall"] as Gary the Bartender.
Crew Bytes
"SIDEWAYS" was .......
directed by Alexander Payne ["The Passion of Martin", "Citizen Ruth", "Election" and "About Schmidt"]; written by Jim Taylor ["Memory Lane", "Election", "Jurassic Park III" and "About Schmidt"] and Alexander Payne ["The Passion of Martin", "Citizen Ruth", "Election" and "About Schmidt"]; original book "Sideways" by Rex Pickett ["California Without End", "From Hollywood to Deadwood" and "My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York"]; costume design by Wendy Chuck ["All Men Are Liars", "Varsity Blues", "Bad Santa" and "Saved!"]; production design by Jane Ann Stewart ["Candyman", "Invasion of Privacy", "Breast Men" and "About Schmidt"]; edited by Kevin Tent ["Guilty as Charged", "Slaughter of the Innocents", "Girl, Interrupted" and "Blow"]; cinematograhpy by Phedon Papamichael ["Patch Adams", "America's Sweethearts", "Moonlight Mile", "Identity" and "Mathilde"]; original music by Rolfe Kent ["Nurse Betty", "Legally Blonde", "Kate & Leopold" and "Mean Girls"] produced by Michael London ["40 Days and 40 Nights", "The Guru", "Thirteen" and "The House of Sand and Fog"] and co-produced by George Parra ["Terminator 2: Judgment Day", "Any Given Sunday", "Terminal Velocity", "The Fast and the Furious" and "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde"].
The Cast
Paul Giamatti
Thomas Haden Church
Virginia Madsen
Sandra Oh
Marylouise Burke
Jessica Hecht
Missy Doty
M C Gainey
Alysia Reiner
Shaké Toukhmanian
Duke Moosekian
Robert Covarrubias
Patrick Gallagher
Stephanie Faracy
Joe Marinelli
Chris Burroughs
Toni Howard
Khoren Babouchian
Lee Brooks
Peter Dennis
Alison Herson
Phil Reeves
Rob Trow
Lacey Rae
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Miles Raymond
Jack
Maya
Stephanie
Miles' Mother
Victoria
Cammi
Cammi's Husband
Christine Erganian
Mrs Erganian
Mike Erganian
Mike's Building Manager
Gary the Bartender
Stephanie's Mother
Frass Canyon Pourer
Chris at Stanford
Evelyn Berman-Silverman
Armenian Priest
Ken Cortland
Leslie Brough
Foxen Winery Pourer
Dr Walt Hendricks
Obnoxious Golfer
Los Olivos Waitress
The Crew
Directed by Alexander Payne
Screenplay written by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
Adapted from the novel "Sideways" by Rex Pickett
Produced by Michael London
Original Music by Rolfe Kent
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael
Film Editing by Kevin Tent
Casting by John Jackson & Ellen Parks
Production Design by Jane Ann Stewart
Art Direction by T K Kirkpatrick
Set Decoration by Lisa Fischer & Barbara Haberecht
Costume Design by Wendy Chuck
Unit Production Manager Ginger Sledge
Run Time 127 minutes
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
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