Review of Blood Into Wine (2010) by Steven B — 20 Apr 2010

4/5 Stars - It's hard to actually pinpoint the purpose for this film being made. Part of it is seeing noted recluse Maynard James Keenan giving a rare glimpse into his world. Another part is detailing the extremely thorough and hard work that goes into making even a single bottle of wine, let alone thousands of cases. The final part is showing that a valley in Arizona, which Keenan says people hear of and "envision cacti and cement", can actually facilitate and grow the necessary vines and grapes to create wine-decent wine.

The last part is probably Keenan's ultimate wish for this project, but it is the first part that most viewers of this documentary will flock to it for. Sure, there will be some wine snobs who check it out, but almost everyone who will see it probably drives down the highway with "Stinkfist" blaring from their vehicle. In the film, several meet-and-greets are shown, with Maynard and winemaking partner Eric Glomski signing bottles of their product at Whole Foods supermarkets. Virtually everyone in line is eager to show off their Tool tattoos, or sing Maynard's praises as a rock god. He makes it clear that he is not concerned with that, and that it may even bother him.

So with that in mind, add or subtract a half star depending on if you are a Maynard/Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer fan, and probably do the same with an extra fourth of a star if you love/hate wine and winemaking. It's a great insight into the process, and seeing Maynard's eyes well up with tears while speaking about his deceased mother (and the subsequent wine named after her) is both touching and amazing to witness for the guy who used to wear artificial breasts and a wig on stage.

Guest appearances are a plenty. Milla Jovovich actually comes off quite ditzy, and Patton Oswalt has the funniest quotes of the entire film. But the stars are Keenan, Glomski, and the Arizona valley where they reside. If anything, you come away with a greater respect for what they are trying to do out there, along with great stories to go running to the Tool message board to comment on. I think that Maynard would be okay with that.