Sideways

A lovely, lyrical film, sad and funny by turns, co-written (from Rex Pickett's novel) and directed by Alexander Payne. Paul Giamatti is Miles, a divorced, depressive, forty-something failed novelist. Thomas Haden Church (you may remember him as the dim-bulb mechanic from the old TV show “Wings”) is Jack, Miles's former college roommate, a fading TV star. Together they take a trip to wine country to celebrate Jack's impending marriage. They meet up with Maya (Virginia Madsen) and Stephanie (Sandra Oh, late of the HBO series “Arli$$,” and Payne's wife). The week's adventures force Miles and Jack to face some truths about themselves. All four leads give star-making performances, bringing their characters to life in most memorable fashion.