Sideways tells the story of Miles, a failed novelist, and his soon-to-be married friend Jack, acted by 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 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 Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh and the duo comes to some profound realizations as they come to terms with maturity.It is writer-director Alexander Payne's fourth feature film, following Citizen Ruth, Election and About Schmidt and needless to say, the most successful one.

      在夺得了2005年度金球奖的最佳电影、最佳编剧奖之后，《杯酒人生》又获得本届奥斯卡的多项提名，其中包括最佳电影、最佳导演、最佳编剧（改编）奖、还有Thomas Haden Church的最佳男配角、以及Virginia Madsen的最佳女配角奖。

　　电影<《杯酒人生》讲的是的是主人公Miles与Thomas Haden 扮演的好朋友Jack的故事。Miles是一个失意的小说家，Jack则是一位不得志的演员。Jack即将在一周以后结婚，所以为了庆祝最后的单身生活，两个老友驾车远行。Miles是个疯狂迷恋葡萄酒的人，他决定用上Jack婚前这一周的时间来培养老友Jack对葡萄酒的钟爱。尽管Jack顺从老友对葡萄酒的热情，但是更想最大限度的尽情享受一下作为单身汉的最后一周的生活。然而相继而来的则是女人和葡萄美酒交织在一起的种种麻烦。这部二重唱最终以主人公对成熟的妥协和深刻理解而结尾。集导演编剧一身的Alexander Payne’s 共执导了四部长片电影。另外三部是公民Ruth，Citizen Ruth；选举Election；About Schmidt关于施密特。这第四部电影《杯酒人生》无疑是四部中最为成功的一部。