5 Plot Point Breakdown: Sideways (2004)

Screenplay Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance

Movie Time: 126 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Jack (Thomas Haden Church) and Miles (Paul Giamatti) stop at a diner on their way up to wine country for Jack’s bachelor weekend. While Miles promises to show Jack a great week of golf and wine tasting, Jack promises to get the perennially depressed Miles laid. (00: 17:24)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

Just before arriving in Wine Country, Jack reveals that he also intends to get laid before he gets married, and he warns Miles not to get in his way. After meeting Miles’s longtime crush Maya (Virginia Madsen) and Jack’s new crush Stephanie (Sandra Oh), Stephanie arranges a double date between the foursome. (33:20)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

At the conclusion of their double date, Jack and Stephanie sleep together while Miles misses his opportunity with Maya. The next morning Jack ditches Miles to spend time with Stephanie. (1:06:20)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

After Jack ditches Miles again to stay late and sleep with a chubby waitress, he shows up at the hotel room naked after being caught by her husband. Jack left his wallet behind and begs Miles to go back and get it because it has his wedding rings inside.  (1:45:11)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

Mile’s ex-wife Vickie shows up at the wedding and reveals that she’s pregnant with her new husband.  Miles skips the reception and stops in a burger joint to drink his rare bottle of wine out of a Styrofoam cup. (1:59:22)

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