Bottle Shock (2008)

I wanted to but couldn't!

From my favorite movies..

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Bottle Shock is one of the most charming, feel good pieces of drake du escapism I've seen. Set in the calming, sun dappled Napa Valley circa 1970's, it chronicles the shift in wine culture, from a European dominated industry, into a new epoch of American craftsmanship and distribution. Bill Pullman is underdog perfect as a vineyard owner in hard financial times, trying to perfect his Chardonnay before a renowned wine festival hits town. Chris Pine plays his down and out kid, looking for his place in life and annoying the hell out of old dad. Eliza Dushku and Freddy Rodriguez are great as his friends and fellow vineyard workers. The star of the show here though is Alan Rickman as Steven Spurrier, a snooty, self deprecating wine shop owner from Paris, who travels to California for the festival, seemingly to scoff at the yanks offering to the celebrated culture. Rickman has a winning, droll nature to his work, like Eyore from Winnie the Pooh crossed with a tea drinking, melancholic teddy bear, and never without a terrifically subtle sense of humour. He's great in the role, displaying humilit and compassion when confronted with the Americans undeniably tasty wines, and has a very human character arc that's lovely to see. Dennis Farina plays his neighbour and friend Maurice Cantavale also with an infectious, feel good charm and the loudest suit this side of the Atlantic. The passion for wine, the didligence to the true story and the willingness to tell a bright, satisfying story are all on display here, with some truly beautiful California locations captured like sunlight in a bottle by the DP. Well worth checking out.

The scenery is great and the feel for the epoch (except for Bo's wig) is not bad either but that's about it.I agree with many other reviewers: the road side accident scene is used too many times; there are too many scenes of someone looking pensively in the distance and saying deep things about wine making; the lodgings of the unpaid intern? I would not say no to such picturesque settings myself.A final point. We are supposed to feel angry for the fact that Bill Pullman's character is not (re-)made partner after he made perfectly clear that he hates that job and that coming back is the last thing he wants to do? Having said that the plot and the pace are reasonable. I cannot give less than 5 since after all it is a quite pleasant movie.

This charming comedy tells the true story of the Château Montelena winery in 1976 Calistoga, CA and how it helped American (specifically Californian) wine break into the sophisticated wine market previously dominated by France.The financially struggling winery is run by perfectionist Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman), with assistance from Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez, "Six Feet Under"), the son of a Mexican field hand who has aspirations of opening his own winery. Also along for the ride is Jim's hippie son, the long-haired, good-natured Bo (Chris Pine of "Star Trek") who has dropped out of college and is stuck in a stagnant existence. When the film opens young intern Sam (Rachael Taylor) has joined the winery to learn all she can about viniculture.Meanwhile, British wine snob Steven Spurrier (a delightful Alan Rickman) has journeyed from his struggling wine shop in Paris to Napa Valley to see what all the fuss is about regarding California wine. Impressed by the quality of vino across the pond, Spurrier arranges the famous blind taste testing wine competition in Paris. Eliza Dushku ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Bring it On"), plays a local barmaid who helps Bo get Château Montelena's wine into the competition."Bottle Shock" is light and funny, with solid performances from the entire cast and a charming, genuinely interesting true story behind it. An enjoyable rental.

It's a remarkable talent, wine tasting. All of your senses are involved, and so many flavors and processing methods are put to use in the complex elaboration of a 'simple' beverage, that what we actually get to drink is, more than a satisfying and flavorful wine, a work of art. That is the premise of Randall Miller's "Bottle Shock", and I can assure you that while it isn't as grand a masterpiece like Alexander Payne's "Sideways" it is a very enjoyable, certainly informative 'true account' of the California Montegna Chardonnay that shocked the world in 1976.The film begins by introducing us to life in Château Montegna, a California vineyard where its owner (Bill Pullman) is having a number of economical problems and is striving with all his heart to create a perfect and delightful Chardonnay. His son Bo (Chris Pine), whom is also his right-hand man, is also interested on the 'family business', but he's more of a laid back hippie with no idea of what he wants out of life other than partying and getting laid. The vineyards' main worker Manuel (Freddy Rodriguez), who's also an excellent wine connoisseur and a close friend of the family, is secretly trying to become a wine maker himself. When a new, insanely sexy intern (Rachael Taylor) comes to work at the vineyard, Bo and Manuel are conflicted about her. Add the monetary problems they're all going through, and you've got yourself a nice, comic melodrama.But meanwhile, in Paris, an Englishman (Alan Rickman) who sells wine and tries to 'educate' people about the artistry and careful production of wine, joins forces with L'Academie du Vin in France. Now, this Englishman is keen on discovering every kind of wine there is, and is certain that the old myth that France is the country that produces the best wine, is wrong. So he decides to set up a blind-testing competition between French and American wine to see if this is actually true. He travels to California, meets with Château Montegna's motley crew and, well, you'll see the rest.The film is amusing. I mean, we all know the result of the competition since the story is, of course, based on the famous 1976 American Chardonnay that beat every other French white wine and even has a spot at the Smithsonian. But more than just being a historical account, the film explores the lives and (often funny) encounters the characters involved in the preparation of this wine go through. It mixes a true event with a well-made story line and the result is, as I've mentioned before, a very enjoyable film.The photography is marvelous, with sweeping, grand takes of California vineyards or large, sun-bathed prairies, and there's a very good use of lighting. The performances are all very nice, especially Alan Rickman who simply nails the comedy of his character right on the spot (and you should see him speak French. Have you ever tried to speak French with an Alan Rickman accent?).Rating: 3 stars out of 4!