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Bottle shock - Chris Pine, Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Randall Miller

Threat advisory: Severe - Severe risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Based on a true story, Bottle shock chronicles the events leading up to the famous Paris Tastings of 1976, wherein Napa wines bested the exalted French wines in a blind tasting and put California wines on the map for good. The story is told through the lives of father and son, Jim (Bill Pullman) and Bo Barrett (Chris Pine), who founded Chateau Montelena in the early 1970s and whose Chardonnay went on to win what was eventually coined "Judgement of Paris." Jim Barrett, who had been a successful real estate attorney previously, is emblematic of the California vintners' spirit - mavericks who had come to Napa on a quest to make world class wines.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film drama true wine California French taste Chardonnay Paris 70s vineyard grapes

Persons of interest

Chris Pine .... Bo Barrett
Alan Rickman .... Steven Spurrier
Bill Pullman .... Jim Barrett
Rachael Taylor .... Sam
Freddy Rodríguez .... Gustavo Brambila
Dennis Farina .... Maurice
Eliza Dushku .... Joe
Miguel Sandoval .... Mr Garcia
Bradley Whitford .... Professor Saunders
Joe Regalbuto .... Bill
Hal B Klein .... Shenky
Philippe Bergeron .... Pierre Tari
James Carraway .... James
Jean-Pierre Gillain .... Pierre Brejoux
Mary Pat Gleason .... Marge
Richard Gross .... Lieutenant Randall
Kathy McGraw .... Ms Relyea
Ross Schwartz .... Storywriter
Lannette Pabon .... Storywriter
Jody Savin .... Storywriter
Randall Miller .... Storywriter
Jody Savin .... Screenwriter
Randall Miller .... Screenwriter
Ross Schwartz .... Screenwriter
Randall Miller .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Bottle shock official movie site
Bottle shock film production notes
Bottle shock QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Seattle International Film Festival 2008: Won: Golden Space Needle Award Best Actor (Alan Rickman)

NB: English, French and German languages with English subtitles
Studios and distributors:

Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

It's been a while but there's a film soon to be released which many people will enjoy. In the past it has been a bit of a worry when a movie has been based on a true story with American roots because they tend to be too drawn out. This usually comes from the screenwriter - with pressure from the studio - putting too much description on the story and the director attempting to capture as much of that description as they can so that the "American Dream" may be viewed in its entirety.

True, there are some very good American Historical films (Patch Adams) worth watching for their descriptive nature, but more often than not the viewer comments that it could have been cut shorter (Dreamland). This time you may be asking yourself at the end for more - yes more - because this was a well-written story if the film is anything to go by. More because there are certain key areas that require more description but in the defence of director Randall Miller, he made the right choice in keeping it to the point. perhaps if the film is successful enough (Dune, Director's cut) he will extend the film and perhaps release a version of one that he intended. I say perhaps because I don't think this film warrants or will receive that much attention, but as we have seen with films such as Good Will Hunting, the expectations of our northern friends don't always meet our own.

Alan Rickman was his usual spirited self, his attempts at humour - more often than not - well received by the audience but not noticed by his fellow co-stars. Chris Pine... was Chris Pine, nothing spectacular however if this is how things really happened back then, I would have preferred someone such as Jake Gyllenhaal instead. Bill Pullman was surprisingly different to his "bend-over-sideways-and-do that funny smile thingy", and instead I really think he portrayed the person he was representing. I haven't seen him play someone evil or anti-heroic, but his character Jim Barrett came pretty close. I felt for him - Jim - a little bit. Again, I think another person may have been able to play the part better (Hugh Laurie); however he did very well himself. The most surprising person was Dennis Farina; after seeing him in Snatch and other gangster-type films it was interesting to see him as what may only be described - my apologies to my friends who may be offended by this - as a gay, French, middle class socialite. He was flamboyant, sophisticated, yet dressed like it was the summer of love in San Francisco.

These people were worthy of a mention as they are whom I remembered most from the screening. There are plenty more people who you will enjoy and whose performances will have you tasting the Chardonnays and Cabernets in your throats as the actors taste and swallow - or spit: darned French! - the robust or delicate vintages from the 1970s of the Napa Valley.

The drama, true movie Bottle shock is directed by Randall Miller and stars Chris Pine, Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman.