Review of Bottle Shock (2008) by Sam T — 03 Jan 2009

MIles ahead of "Sideways" - in part, because there's a great cast, and perhaps much more important - rooted in actual fact.

Charts the birth of the Napa Valley wine and exploding the myth of French wine supremacy. A fun watch not just for pretentious wine drinkers (i'll stick to my beer, thanks) but for anyone who fancies a good yarn.

Alan Rickman is superlative in this outing. Notice the peculiar encounter with Bill Pullman's character, towards the latter part of the movie. Dennis Farina is a fine accompaniment, with his artfully designed suits & coiffed hair - good to see him post Snatch. As of course, is the eye candy quotient in the "Sam" character.

If there was a 'plaint, it's only this - should've been a bit more exploring the interesting chap who listens to Maria Callas all day. He seemed like q. the character.