Three film critics’ groups name ‘Sideways’ best picture

“Sideways” keeps taking big steps forward with movie critics.

The comedy/drama about middle-aged best friends who go on a wine-tasting road trip outside Santa Barbara, Calif., was named best picture of 2004 on Monday by the New York Film Critics Circle. It also took top honors on Saturday from both the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the New York Film Critics Online, and the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures both have listed it among the year’s 10 best.

Paul Giamatti, who gives a poignant portrayal of a miserable, divorced wine snob, was named best actor by the New York Film Critics Circle, and Virginia Madsen, who plays a waitress and fellow wine lover with whom he hesitantly forges a romance, won best supporting actress honors from both New York groups as well as the L.A. critics.

Thomas Haden Church, who plays Giamatti’s altar-bound best friend, was named best supporting actor by the online New York critics and the Los Angeles group.

All three actors also received Golden Globe nominations on Monday. Globe voters also nominated “Sideways” for best musical/comedy picture, and Alexander Payne for best director, Payne and Jim Taylor for best screenplay and Rolfe Kent for musical score.