The Judgment of Paris was one of the biggest events in modern wine history, as American wines bested their French counterparts in a blind tasting. Arranged by Steven Spurrier, the clash was supposed to be a one-sided affair with the wines from France besting their American counterparts. California wines had not gained the sort of status they have among oenophiles now. One blind tasting changed all that, and with the success of a number of films involving wine already, including Sideways, its shocking that a film about the event took this long to make. Bottle Shock is a dramatization of the events of the Judgment of Paris on May 24, 1976.
Spurrier (Alan Rickman) is running his shop when a good friend (Dennis Farina) challenges his taste in wine. Showing exclusively French wines, hes challenged to go to America to evaluate their wines. Showcasing both French and American wines in a blind tasting competition, the film tracks his “fish out of water” trek through California and through the wine-tasting competition that would shock the wine world.
The film is more about Spurriers trek through 1970s California than it is about the wine-tasting itself, taking time to explore the various people whose wines he would sample. The famed Judgment of Paris itself is seemingly an afterthought of the film, instead focusing on Chateau Montelena, which would up winning, and its staff.
Jim (Bill Pullman) is a former lawyer who quit his firm to run the winery and Bo (Chris Pine) is his slacker son who works for him. Gustavo (Freddie Rodriguez) is one of Jims workers, the son of migrant farm hands who grew up tilling the soil, and Sam (Rachael Taylor) is Jims intern and involved with both Gustavo and Bo. The film focuses on their relationships, giving us an insight into their lives at the point right before they shocked the world. Its a unique insight into their lives, arguably more interesting then the eventual Judgment of Paris is. Combined with Spurriers insights into 1970s California life from the vantage point of a cultured Englishman living in Paris has and you have a quirky independent comedy with enough dramatic touches to keep it interesting. Its not a special film, nor does it try to be.
Bottle Shock is the first of two films to focus on the subject, as The Judgment of Paris is currently listed as in development, but the film has the feeling that Capote and Infamous had several years ago. Itll be interesting the second take on the event has, as Bottle Shock provides a quirky insight into the event.
Presented in a Dolby Digital surround with a widescreen presentation, the DVD transfer is superb. There is a lot of quality cinematography to be found and the DVD shows it off wonderfully.
An Underdogs Journey: The Making of Bottle Shock is the standard issue EPK about the film. Nothing of note is said, outside of the usual sort of puff commentary provided.
Chateau Montelena: One Winerys Search for Excellence is a feature on the winery that the film focuses on. Featuring Bo Barrett and his father Jim, as well as other principles that would be portrayed in the film by actors, its an interesting piece on the winery and its history. Running a shade over 10 minutes, its a fairly innocuous piece that is more of a promotional video than anything else.
Deleted Scenes are included, but were deleted for a reason and wouldnt add anything back in.
The films Theatrical Trailer is included, as well as a Commentary Track with Randall Miller, Jody Savin, Ross Schwartz, Lannette Pabon, Chris Pine, J. Todd Harris, Bill Pullman and Eliza Dushku.
The DVD itself is pretty weak outside of the film itself, as the extras dont offer any real insight into what is a fascinating event. One would think that an independent film like this, with much history on a subject not covered before, would have something more than a typical DVD release. Alas it doesnt. If you loved the movie in theaters, its definitely worth the pickup. If not, its a solid rental but nothing to pick up immediately.
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20th Century Fox presents Bottle Shock. Directed by Randall Miller. Starring Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez, Dennis Farina. Written by Jody Savin, Randall Miller and Ross Schwartz. Running time: 110 minutes. Rated PG-13. Released on DVD: 2.3.2009. Available at Amazon.
