Bottle ShockMovie Reviews

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Must Go!
Written August 30, 2008
Straight up Bottle Shock - Not Sideways

by huffmama

What an enjoyable and delightful movie. My friend Debie and I saw it on on whim one Saturday night at the Angelica Theater in Dallas, Texas. Not knowing anything about the movie or what to expect we were pleasantly suprised and delighted with Bottle Shock. Neither one of us are wine snobs - I 'm a beer girl myself - and at first were prepaired for another take on the movie Sideways and it is. However, this movie is better ! We came out of the theater smiling and very glad that we stumbled in to see it. Well done. Mary H.
- 11 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Written August 27, 2008
Cute movie - not terribly factual - READ THE BOOK

by RhoneFan

This is dramatization of one aspect of the story toldi n George M. Tabor's terrific book, "The Judgement of Paris" about the famous 1976 blind tasting in Paris when California Chardonnay and Cabernet beat some very fine French wines. It isn't really based on the book, just follows the fortunes of one family (Barrett) the makers of Chateau Montelena. While I'm sure there are many true-to-life elements to the family description and I'll bet there was plenty of boxing and sex happening up there, it's not a very complete telling.

See the movie for a nice story, mild drama, good acting, beautiful cinematography and a slice of a very interesting story. Then, if you enjoy wine, read the book, which combines a wonderful history of modern California wine-making and several families important to that history with a really exciting story about how one man's persistence led to a tasting that rocked the wine world.
- 10 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 7, 2008
"Bottle Shock" makes "Sideways" look backwards by pwbryan52@hotmail.com

by pwbryan52

I was expecting to enjoy this film, the previews were fun to watch. I was not expecting "Bottle Shock" to be subtle, brilliant, deeply touching, beautiful, so rich in human behavior, and fun.
Randall Miller will be present at the oscars and probably as a long shot, but he deserves an oscar for something; Director, Writer, Editor or Best Film will do, any or all would be fine with me.
Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez and Dennis Farina are all welcome to oscars too!
This is really ensemble acting at its best, even the smallest of parts are beautifully drawn. (The man with the bowl of guacamole was perfect. His simplicity and humility are heart rending.)
The story is all the more enjoyable because it is true. Great film making.
by pwbryan52@hotmail.com
- 11 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written September 18, 2008
You'll want a nice glass of a delcious wine after BottleShock...

by Big.Screen.Fan

I was a student up at Sonoma State in 1976 during the same time Napa Valley had some big wineries and smaller wine growers waiting for the market to start taking notice of their quality California wines Ironically, it came in the form of a British wine snob looking to boost sales for his Parisian wine shop. A true story, Bottle Shock makes for a wonderful reminder of the wide-open, less crowded Napa Valley of the mid-1970's where Alan Rickman's delightful wine snob character, establishes a blind tasting competition in France comparing French and California wines. With today's mortgage fall-out, it is easy to relate to actor Bill Pullman's angry & shamed character in deep financial debt for everything he has put into his vineyard. If you like wine, a good solid piece of relatively recent California history, humor, some soul searching ("did I do the right thing," a great cast of players, and beautiful California photography this is a MUST SEE MOVIE!
- 8 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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Written August 29, 2008
Someone Pass me the Freedom Fries Please...

by Trojanchick

This movie was a little funny, a little educational, a little drama and a whole-lotta charming! For anyone interested in wine culture, just like drinkning good wine, or are damn proud to be an American this is an interesting movie that sheds some factual light on the French wine insdustry and how those snobs got taken day by a little state I like to call Cali! The move is unique, and story driven. Would have preferred to seen the characters developed a bit more, but the message came across loud and clear. "Bottle Shock" is well worth the price of admission. TWO THUMBS UP IN A CIRCLE
- 9 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 28, 2008
Bottle Shock _ XXXXX Excellent !

by denfer

Napa Valley ... Fine Wine ... 1976 ... Califorina wines matriculate to the world stage going head-to-head with fine French Wine ... (sort-of-romantic) coming-of-age stories based on some of the actual occurances ... with a bit of the free-loving of the 70's thrown in for good measure.

You come out with a pleasant smile ... a very good flick !!!
- 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Written October 5, 2008
Very Enjoyable

by Optimism

Enjoyed this true-story underdog movie. Nicely acted, especially Bill Pullman and the wine-snob.
Informative, upbeat. You'll be glad you went. (' Sure would have liked to taste that Chardonay!)
- 13 out of 21 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 6, 2008
Great Movie!

by lulumom

I saw this movie at a screening last night. It was terrific! It was witty, interesting, inspiring and beautifully photographed! Alan Rickman was, as always, divine. It was a vitner's take on the American Dream.
- 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Written August 26, 2008
Nice to have an another version of Sideways

by Gioia99

Sideways was about two disfunctional guys and their hookups preaching about Pinot Noir. I loved it .. fresh and new at the time. This is about mostly together people and their hookups preaching about Chardonnay and Cabernet. It's not fresh, but the characters are good enough to make it very enjoyable. After each movie, our foursome went out and bought a bottle of wine. Nice evenings. Who would have thought you could make movies about growing and making wine in California.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 7, 2008
Great movie!

by seneb

This was an awesome movie! The ratings currently ("so-so") don't do it justice. The acting is good, the storyline is engaging, it's funny and you learn a little along the way. The cinematography is astounding, and the music is great. It's a very engaging move, very well done. Those who didn't like it didn't say why. Those who did like it go on and on about it. Hmmm.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Written August 25, 2008
Like fine wine, movie takes its time to reach its peak.

by MelOtt

Fine performances by Bill Pullman and Alan Rickman mark this thin-on-plot story of the great wine revolution of 1976, in which unheralded California wines defeated the most famous names in French winemaking. The fine wine of Rickman's frustrated English wineseller in Paris and Pullman's similarly frustrated California vintner aiming for perfection is thinned a bit by a silly love story and a rather conventional father-son rivalry. But the basic story itself is a classic David vs. Goliath plot that makes for entertaining viewing, for wine lovers and for anyone who likes to see the snobs defeated.
- 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 27, 2008
Nicely done!

by Machatuanis

For all of you wine-fanatics and Sideways lovers, or even anyone looking for something good to watch this is a movie for you.
Much like Sideways, this film sets aside the pretensions and boring side of Wine knowledge, making a really interesting, funny, and engaging film for anyone.
I highly recommend this film.
- 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 14, 2008
SHOCKingly Wonderful

by Sally34

I just saw Bottle Shock and I must say I was really pleasantly surprised. What a performance by Alan Rickman! Hi-larious. I was also really happy to learn that this is based on a true story. Take that, Frenchies :). This is a great overcoming adversity story told with a lot of humor and heart. Chris Pine is a heartthrob and Bill Pullman plays a very believable drunk. Maybe they were drinking real wine on the set? I know I would be :). Perfect escapist fun. I want to go to Napa Valley now! If you haven't seen it yet, definitely worth checking out.
- 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Written August 26, 2008
Quirky, funny, and just different...in a good way

by mburk71

Today when hollywood only seems to put out formulaic repeats of old movies and movie formulas, it is nice to see a film that tackles something new. Bottle Shock does follow the classic feel-good, underdog movie formula but in a very toungue in cheek sort of way. The acting was good and the 70's era setting was nostalgic for me. Alan Rickman does a great job in playing a role he is all to familiar with, a British snob (see Love Actually) and Dennis Farina reprises his Ray Barboni roll from Get Shorty but with a pleasant and cheerfull demeanor in bad 70s clothing. Bill Pullman overacts a bit as the perfectionist wine grower but at least he sticks to character and is passionate. Some of the character development was light but the content is what sets the movie apart. It is so rare to actually see a movie on a topic that very few people know anytthing about. I enjoyed the chemistry between Chris Pine and Racheal Taylor. If you like quirky and unique then you will enjoy this film.
- 5 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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Must Go!
Written August 15, 2008
Bottle Shock

by JacklynD

Thisi s a gem of a movie. It premiered at the Sundance film festival and is being independently distributed. The cinetography is fantastic. Rolling Stone gave it a great review. Bay Area people will love it. Napa Valley never looked so good. Its a real feel good movie.
- 4 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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