Did you people see the same film I saw?

Am I Missing Something?

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

It's the only way to get through the whole movie. I don't understand how it gets so many good reviews. Were people drunk or just crazy? First I'll address the terrible wig. Wearing a wig instead of getting the needed hair-do is understandable if it's for a couple of minutes, but this guy used it throughout the whole movie and it was worse than Barbie's hair! A Razzy to the stylist of this movie was rooted for.Then we have the drama with the unnecessary father-son fights, the hottie having a disguised wet-tshirt standalone to allure those Hollywood producer pervs, and the intense Mexican who sadly, but not surprisingly, does not get the girl in the end. They sent the wiggy to represent them all and, predictably enough, as soon as his wine wins all is over. "Let's not tell them what red wine won" thought the writer, "we have Kirk, that's enough". I didn't know much about how California wine became important, and this movie changed nothing. I enjoyed more the Wikipedia article on this than that long, unbearable movie. Bad directing, terrible script, the make-up and styling seems to have been done by a square- minded stereotypical-based team and, worst of all, they prolonged the drama just to create a suspense that did not make up for the 110+ minutes it lasts.

It's 1976 Calistoga, California. Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) is desperate to scrap up the money to perfect his chardonnay. His son Bo (Chris Pine) is a lot less patient. Sam Fulton (Rachael Taylor) surprises everybody as the new intern. Gustavo Brambila (Freddy Rodríguez) is the foreman trying to make his own wine, and Bo's best friend. In Paris, sommelier Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) has a failing wine shop. He is challenged by his next door neighbor American Maurice Cantavale (Dennis Farina) to go taste some Californian wine. He goes to find some Californian wines to challenge the french ones in a blind taste test. He has a roadside breakdown and Jim Barrett coincidentally rescues him. He is amazed at Jim's wine and the rest of the area wines.This is a nice charming true story. Alan Rickman has a friendly snotty attitude. He's snobby without being arrogant. I think that's the key. He's actually likable. As for the romantic triangle, I like the hot girl not picking the handsome leading man but then she changes her mind. It's balanced out by an angry Bill Pullman. He provides the little bit of drama in the movie.

Randall Miller's "Bottle Shock" is a pretty good comedy about a 1976 competition in which European vineyards were pitted against Californian wine estates. Lightweight, amiable and based on a true story (whose facts it plays loose with), the film stars Bill Pullman as a troubled vintner, Chris Pine as his air-headed son, and Alan Rickman as his customarily morose self.A populist version of "Sideways", "Bottle Shock" pits American egos versus French snobbery. Bizarrely for such a quasi-nationalistic film, it sports a subplot in which a "Mexican" wine maker bashes white Americans for not valuing either land or the art of fermentation. Our heroes, two American underdogs, eventually prove him wrong; they produce wine so pure that it's white rather than red! And our "Mexican"? He's slowly and unceremoniously jettisoned from the film. And the French? They're schooled in the art of real wine-making. USA! USA! USA! "Bottle Shock" stars Eliza Dushku in a small but cute role as a local bar owner. Elsewhere Chris Pine is funny as a Californian beach bum, and the film is awash with grandiose helicopter shots, all of which glide across unending acres of sparkling, Californian plantations. The film was bashed by film critics, but never pretends to be anything other than a middle finger to connoisseurs.7.9/10 – Worth one viewing. See "Mondovino", "Corked" and "This Earth is Mine".

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!