"Virginia Madsen is a revelation. The years have made her beauty richer, her grasp of character more subtle and affecting."
-Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

Virginia Madsen's role is neither inward nor flashy, but forthright. Maya is a rare combination portrayed all too rarely in American films - a lovely, intelligent woman with a lyrical soul - and Ms. Madsen's exquisite performance is a pivotal part of the picture. Indeed, her scenes with Paul Giamatti are some of the most moving romantic encounters I've seen in years."
-Joe Morgenstern, WALL STREET JOURNAL

"Virginia Madsen is... mesmerizing."
-Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

"Madsen's ability to bring delicacy, sincerity and soulful strength to a caring, grounded individual gives the film an emotional integrity it would be immeasurably less effective without." - Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES

SIDEWAYS into a wry, comedic exploration of the crazy vicissitudes of love and friendship, the damnable persistence of loneliness and dreams and the enduring war between Pinot and Cabernet.

The misadventures begin when Miles (Paul Giamatti), an un-recovered divorcé and would-be novelist with a wine fixation, decides to gift his old college buddy and washed-up actor Jack (Thomas Haden Church) with a celebratory trip to the vineyards of the Central Coast the week before Jack's wedding. The two couldn't be an odder couple. Jack is an over-sexed charmer; Miles is a sad-sack worrier. Jack is looking for his "last taste of freedom;" Miles is just hoping to not get even more depressed. Jack is fine with cheap Merlot; Miles pines for the perfect Pinot. Indeed, the only thing they seem to share in common is the same heady mix of failed ambitions and fading youth.

And yet, as they make their way up the coast, Miles and Jack soon find themselves drowning in wine and women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen). When Jack falls head-over-heels for a local wine pourer and threatens to call off his nuptials, Miles tries to keep his friend on the straight and narrow. But Miles's own romantic encounter with a wine-savvy waitress interferes and sends them both careening headlong into reality.

Now, the wedding approaches and with it the certainty that Miles and Jack won't make it back to Los Angeles unscathed or unchanged . . . if they get there in one piece at all.

SIDEWAYS is written by the multiple award- winning team of Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (ABOUT SCHMIDT, ELECTION), based on Rex Pickett's novel of the same name. The film is produced by Michael London (THIRTEEN, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG) and co-produced by George Parra, assistant director on such films as LEGALLY BLONDE 2 and ABOUT SCHMIDT. Shot by director of photography Phedon Papamichael (MOONLIGHT MILE, IDENTITY), the film is set to a soulful score composed by Rolfe Kent. Joining forces with Payne, and following their collaborations on ABOUT SCHMIDT, ELECTION and CITIZEN RUTH, are editor Kevin Tent and production designer Jane Ann Stewart.

VIRGINIA MADSEN (Maya)

Virginia Madsen is perhaps most celebrated for her performances in Francis Ford Coppola's THE RAINMAKER with Jon Voight, Danny DeVito and Matt Damon, Rob Reiner's GHOSTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI with Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg and James Woods, CANDYMAN with Kasi Lemmons, HOT SPOT directed by Dennis Hopper, HBO's first feature LONG GONE starring opposite William Peterson, and David Lynch's DUNE to name a few.

Besides numerous television appearances including NBC's Emmy Award winning FRASIER and ABC's critically acclaimed THE PRACTICE, Madsen can be seen in the independent films ALMOST SALINAS, in which she stars opposite John Mahoney and AMERICAN GUN, in which she stars opposite Academy Award winner James Coburn.