Sideways: The Shooting Script

The newest screenplay from the Oscar®-nominated writers of Election and About Schmidt, starring Paul Giamatti (American Splendor), a tale of two men's adventure in California wine country.

Based on Rex Pickett's acclaimed first novel, Sideways tells the story of Miles (Paul Giamatti), a failed novelist, and his soon-to-be married friend Jack (Wings' Thomas Haden Church), a washed up actor. To salute the remains of their youth, the two men take one last road trip in the week before Jack's wedding. A serious wine enthusiast, Miles is determined to educate his friend on the region's beloved Pinot Noir wines before the week is out.

Jack indulges his best friend's passion for the grape but is mainly interested in living his last week of bachelorhood to the hilt. Trouble ensues with wine and women (played by Ghosts of Mississippi's Virginia Madsen and Under the Tuscan Sun's Sandra Oh) and the duo comes to some profound realizations as they come to terms with maturity.

The Newmarket Shooting Script® book includes the complete screenplay and three original commentaries written exclusively for the book by writer/director Alexander Payne, novelist Rex Pickett, and Rolling Stone film critic Peter Travers.