On the Film "Bottle Shock"

[Daniel Rogov]

Shortly before our move to our new address we started a discussion about the film "Bottle Shock" at http://stratsplace.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=17357

As I wrote earlier, "That the film reconstructs what was an important and interesting event will be denied by none. As a film, however, the subject seems to hold about as much potential fascination and drama as watching a re-enactment of the passage of the 1922 leash laws in Sioux City, Iowa. I may be wrong but personally I'm planning on giving this one a miss until it appears on late-nite television".

The film has now been released and is under discussion at Robin's WLDG wine forum (that including links to several reviews of the film) and can be seen and joined at
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17577

Best
Rogov

[Avi Hein]

I have to admit ... despite my earlier enthusiasm, I plan on giving this a pass. The reviews just seem so bad -- although I can see where it doesn't have the crossover value.

Is it playing in Israel? I didn't see it in today's paper.

[Ilan T]

I have to admit ... despite my earlier enthusiasm, I plan on giving this a pass. The reviews just seem so bad -- although I can see where it doesn't have the crossover value.

The reviews seem pretty mixed, but a lot of serious critics seemed to love it. Check out Peter Travers's review at Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/mov ... ttle_shock.

Check out all the reviews can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bottle_shock/. The movie was very well received in the film festival circuit and doesn't come out for another few day, at which point it will get more reviews. Personally, I'm totally going to see it as soon as I can.

[Daniel Rogov]

A perhaps rhetorical question on my part but why on earth would anyone want to see a film about a wine tasting? Especially one in which they had to at least partly fictionalize the characters who took part in order to give the film some sense of life?

Not quite sure, but I think I'd rather see a re-run of the Rocky Horror Show.

Best
Rogov

[Peter May]

A perhaps rhetorical question on my part but why on earth would anyone want to see a film about a wine tasting?

Maybe because you're Israeli? Isn't the film really about the Americans beating the 'cheese-eating surrender monkeys' on their home turf?

[Daniel Rogov]

Peter, Hi....

I think my feelings about this film would be much the same regardless of whether I lived in New Jersey, Jersey, Orleans or Tokyo. I'm all for good California wines. But then again, I'm also all for good French, Italian and Turkish wines. Aside from which, is it that exciting to know again what we already know but in a somewhat fictionalized form?

No bias on my part here. Heck, I'm all for French, Italian, English and even American cheeses. Aged New York State Cheddar is among my favorites....

Best
Rogov

[Daniel Rogov]

Well, it happened - this morning and in the comfort of my own living room, I saw "Bottle Shock". My tasting note:

Bottle Shock, 2008: Lovely scenery but distinctly light-weight, with a pronounced hint of shmaltz on the nose and not very much relationship on the palate or the memory to the variety or events portrayed. Lovely scenery, but wanders more than a bit too far afield from realities. Portrays a blind tasting but it doesn't help much that everyone knows in advance who and what is going to "win". Lacks depth, breadth or length. See now if at all. Score 74.

Best
Rogov

[Menachem S]

Maybe you should have seen the movie "blind", as you "taste" everything else.

might have been more apealing . . .

[Gamliel K]

Well, it happened - this morning and in the comfort of my own living room, I saw "Bottle Shock". My tasting note:

Bottle Shock, 2008: Lovely scenery but distinctly light-weight, with a pronounced hint of shmaltz on the nose and not very much relationship on the palate or the memory to the variety or events portrayed. Lovely scenery, but wanders more than a bit too far afield from realities. Portrays a blind tasting but it doesn't help much that everyone knows in advance who and what is going to "win". Lacks depth, breadth or length. See now if at all. Score 74.

Best
Rogov

Rogov,
Your tasting note reminds me of an old quote I once read from one of Alexander Woollcott's New Yorker theater reviews: "The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it."

Gamliel

P.S. Not on my must see list.