Miles is a divorced man and a failed writer who teaches junior high English. He decides to take his best friend, somewhat famous actor Jack, on a weeklong drive through California's wine country. There they explore their failures and question their relationships. Jack, who is about to get married, has an affair with a woman and wonders whether he should call off his wedding. Miles questions whether or not he made the right choice while trying to form a relationship with the woman's best friend, a waitress at a restaurant that he frequents often when visiting that part of the country.

MPAA rating: R; for language, some strong sexual content and nudity.

Optional dubbed French or dubbed Spanish dialogue; French or Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned.

Originally released as a motion picture in 2004.

Based on the novel by Rex Pickett.

Special features: Full-length commentary by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church; 7 deleted scenes; behind-the-scenes featurette; theatrical trailer.

Director of photography, Phedon Papamichael ; editor, Kevin Tent ; music, Rolfe Kent ; costume designer, Wendy Chuck ; production designer, Jane Ann Stewart.

Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virgina Madson, Sandra Oh.

DVD, region 1; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, dual-layer.

Academy Awards, USA, 2005: Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor).