Payne, Alexander 1961-

About Schmidt ( Visual )
21 editions published between 2002 and 2004 in 3 languages and held by 1,724 libraries worldwide
Warren Schmidt is at sea after being left a widower shortly after retiring from a lifetime as an actuary at Woodmen of the World Insurance in Omaha, Nebraska. He matter-of-factly explains that, since he is 67, retired, and a widower, he should be dead within nine years--this in a letter to the African boy he is sponsoring through a charitable relief organization. As daughter Jeannie's wedding to waterbed salesman fiancé Randall looms, Warren sets out for Denver in his Winnebago Adventurer to attend, and discovers along the way that slavish devotion to an insurance company hasn't exactly made for a life well spent.

Sideways ( Visual )
5 editions published between 2005 and 2008 in English and held by 1,503 libraries worldwide
Jack and Miles were college roommates, and despite their differences, they have been friends ever since. Jack is an actor, whose career high point is a stint as a soap opera regular. English teacher and oenophile Miles would much rather be a published novelist. Jack is about to get married, so depressed, divorced Miles suggests they hit the road for a week-long bachelor party amidst the rolling hillsides and gorgeous sunsets of wine country near Santa Barbara. A little golf, a lot of wine, how could it possibly go sideways?

Jurassic Park III ( Visual )
18 editions published between 2001 and 2008 in English and French and held by 1,285 libraries worldwide
When renowned paleontologist Dr. Grant agrees to accompany a wealthy adventurer and his wife on an aerial tour of Isla Sorna, InGen's former breeding ground for prehistoric creatures, he has no idea that he was brought along for a totally different reason. When their plane crashes and they become stranded, they discover the island's native inhabitants are smarter, faster, fiercer and more brutal than imagined.

I now pronounce you Chuck & Larry ( Visual )
8 editions published between 2007 and 2009 in English and held by 1,053 libraries worldwide
Chuck and Larry are the pride of their fire station. Two guy's guys always side-by-side and willing to do anything for each other. Widower Larry wants just one thing, to protect his kids. His buddy Chuck also wants on thing, to enjoy the single life. Grateful Chuck owes Larry for saving his life in a fire, and Larry calls in his marker when civic red tape prevents him from naming his own two kids as his life insurance beneficiaries. All that Chuck has to do is claim to be Larry's domestic partner on some city forms. But when an overzealous bureaucrat becomes suspicious, the new couple's arrangement becomes a citywide issue and goes from confidential to front-page news. Chuck and Larry must now fumble through a charade of domestic bliss. After surviving their mandatory honeymoon and dodging the threat of exposure the well-intentioned con men discover that sticking together in your time of need is what truly makes a family.

Paris, je t'aime Paris, I love you ( Visual )
1 edition published in 2007 in English and held by 832 libraries worldwide
The world's top directors and some of America's top stars create a panoramic portrait of Paris. Find yourself transported by these sexy, romantic, haunting, dramatic, and beautiful stories.

Election ( Visual )
3 editions published between 1999 and 2000 in English and Portuguese and held by 798 libraries worldwide
Civics teacher Jim McAllister is worried: obnoxious, perennial overachiever Tracy Flick looks likely to win the student body presidency--she is running unopposed. Seeking to inject some democracy into the process, he persuades nice but dim football hero Paul Metzler to stand against her. This merely makes Tracy even more determined to win, and when Paul's alienated younger sister Tammy joins the race, leads her to use extreme measures to guarantee success. Meanwhile, Mr. McAllister's life becomes increasingly complicated as he strays from the principles he teaches. Politics is rarely pretty, but the students and faculty at Carver High are about to find out just how ugly it can get.

Sideways by Alexander Payne ( Visual )
14 editions published between 2004 and 2010 in English and Japanese and held by 755 libraries worldwide
Miles a divorced man and Jack his libertine friend take a road trip through California's wine country to celebrate Jack's final bachelor days. They indulge in wine, women and a yearning for the past, but eventually collide with reality.

Cedar Rapids ( Visual )
2 editions published in 2011 in English and held by 728 libraries worldwide
A small-town, naive Midwestern insurance agent must represent his company at a regional insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his mind is blown by the big city experience.

King of California ( Visual )
3 editions published between 2007 and 2008 in English and held by 661 libraries worldwide
A man is reunited with his teenage daughter after spending years in a mental institute. When he becomes obsessed that ancient treasure is buried under his home, his daughter decides to go along with his antics.

Election ( Visual )
13 editions published between 1999 and 2009 in English and Spanish and held by 501 libraries worldwide
Tracy Flick (Witherspoon), a straight-A go-getter is determined to be president of Carver High's student body. Popular teacher Jim McAllister (Broderick) decides to derail Tracy's obsessive overachieving by recruiting an opposition candidate. Mr. M. never imagines that stopping Tracy is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.