Dan's Papers - August 22, 2008

There were more than a few people who at first shrugged at the idea of Sideways, the 2004 comedy that seemed to be about wine - a subject not often tapped for laughs. However, we soon learned it was merely the window dressing for a special film that tackled a greater tale, so rich in its telling, yet double-warmed with lovely cinematography. Now, with Bottle Shock, the wine country of California is the cover holding a good book, but this time the tale is remarkably different.

Forget the emotional woes of Paul Giamatti - here the spotlight shines on the deftly patronizing Alan Rickman as a snooty Englishman who ends up creating a verily patriotic moment for the USA. Based on a true story, Rickman plays Steven Spurrier, owner of a struggling vintner's shop and wine academy in Paris (circa 1976) who is hoping to find something that will make some noise for his business. In desperation, he comes to Napa Valley, which three decades ago wasn't considered much by vino enthusiasts.

He arrives at the Sonoma winery of Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman), a man who ditched his law firm in order to explore his passion for creating a socko chardonnay. But his struggles don't end at the world's disparagement of California creations, as his son Bo (Chris Pine) struggles in a semi-love triangle with the treacherous Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez). The strife gets heated as the two suitors seethe over who lands the fetching intern Sam (Rachael Taylor), and Bo doesn't help matters with his laid-back attitude toward his dad's doings. But Spurrier sees the magic, and, with his help, the Barrett wines get to France in time for a taste test.

Make that the taste test - a true moment in time known as "The 1976 Blind Taste Test." And much like Titanic, the ending is a known fact (so we won't spoil your fun if you don't know the story) - but this being a movie, you can guess things are going to shape up for the American wine industry after the competition.

All in all, this is a charming little piece that does a lot with a little. A story like this, in reality, is not so chockfull of drama energy and come-from-behind exuberance, but director and co-writer Randall Miller found this minor footnote in history and threw in lots of texture (while throwing out people who were actually there in real life), so don't feel as if this is a learning experience about the history of the California wine industry. But let's face it: as any 10th grader finds out come test time, history in movies rarely matches the truth. However, if you can excuse the factual twisting, what you receive is a smart piece with some good turns by Pullman and Denis Farina, who plays the ex-American who guides Rickman's Spurrier to the up-and-coming wines of California. Chris Pine is good too - although his blonde wig seems about two sizes too big - but it's fun watching him, knowing that he's about to take on the role of James Kirk in a Shatner-less Star Trek sequel. There are even some solid turns by Taylor and by Eliza Dushku (Faith from TV's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), and although their presence as throwaway characters seems more about opening the door to the interest of eager gentlemen come DVD rental time, they hold their own with their more accomplished cast mates.

But in the end, this film belongs to Rickman. To many, he's immediately recognized as either Severus Snape from the Harry Potter movies or as Hans Gruber from the original Die Hard, but for the film buffs who have seen him in Truly Madly Deeply, Sense and Sensibility or even the cult-classic Galaxy Quest, it moves many to see a film once he's announced he's taking part. Combine that with the Rocky-like story here, and the beautiful visuals and shots of the Napa Valley throughout the movie, and it becomes clear that Bottle Shock can really inspire - on many different levels.