Sideways

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

Miles Raymond is an aspiring but unsuccessful writer, a wine aficionado and a divorced, depressed, borderline alcoholic middleaged English teacher living in San Diego, who takes his soontobemarried actor friend and college roommate, Jack Cole, on a road trip through Santa Ynez Valley wine country. Though still recognized on occasion, Jacks acting career appears to have peaked years ago, when he costarred in a popular TV soap but now does commercial voiceovers and plans to enter his future fatherinlaws successful real estate business after hes 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 friends 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 exwife, after learning from Jack earlier that day that she has remarried. They return to Stephanies 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, Jacks affair with Stephanie continues, to the point where he believes hes falling in love with her, he bonds with her daughter and makes the suggestion to Miles, that they move there for

Source: Wikipedia