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This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Bottle Shock is one of the most charming, feel good pieces of drake du escapism I've seen. Set in the calming, sun dappled Napa Valley circa 1970's, it chronicles the shift in wine culture, from a European dominated industry, into a new epoch of American craftsmanship and distribution. Bill Pullman is underdog perfect as a vineyard owner in hard financial times, trying to perfect his Chardonnay before a renowned wine festival hits town. Chris Pine plays his down and out kid, looking for his place in life and annoying the hell out of old dad. Eliza Dushku and Freddy Rodriguez are great as his friends and fellow vineyard workers. The star of the show here though is Alan Rickman as Steven Spurrier, a snooty, self deprecating wine shop owner from Paris, who travels to California for the festival, seemingly to scoff at the yanks offering to the celebrated culture. Rickman has a winning, droll nature to his work, like Eyore from Winnie the Pooh crossed with a tea drinking, melancholic teddy bear, and never without a terrifically subtle sense of humour. He's great in the role, displaying humilit and compassion when confronted with the Americans undeniably tasty wines, and has a very human character arc that's lovely to see. Dennis Farina plays his neighbour and friend Maurice Cantavale also with an infectious, feel good charm and the loudest suit this side of the Atlantic. The passion for wine, the didligence to the true story and the willingness to tell a bright, satisfying story are all on display here, with some truly beautiful California locations captured like sunlight in a bottle by the DP. Well worth checking out.

It's 1976 Calistoga, California. Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) is desperate to scrap up the money to perfect his chardonnay. His son Bo (Chris Pine) is a lot less patient. Sam Fulton (Rachael Taylor) surprises everybody as the new intern. Gustavo Brambila (Freddy Rodríguez) is the foreman trying to make his own wine, and Bo's best friend. In Paris, sommelier Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) has a failing wine shop. He is challenged by his next door neighbor American Maurice Cantavale (Dennis Farina) to go taste some Californian wine. He goes to find some Californian wines to challenge the french ones in a blind taste test. He has a roadside breakdown and Jim Barrett coincidentally rescues him. He is amazed at Jim's wine and the rest of the area wines.This is a nice charming true story. Alan Rickman has a friendly snotty attitude. He's snobby without being arrogant. I think that's the key. He's actually likable. As for the romantic triangle, I like the hot girl not picking the handsome leading man but then she changes her mind. It's balanced out by an angry Bill Pullman. He provides the little bit of drama in the movie.

Randall Miller's "Bottle Shock" is a pretty good comedy about a 1976 competition in which European vineyards were pitted against Californian wine estates. Lightweight, amiable and based on a true story (whose facts it plays loose with), the film stars Bill Pullman as a troubled vintner, Chris Pine as his air-headed son, and Alan Rickman as his customarily morose self.A populist version of "Sideways", "Bottle Shock" pits American egos versus French snobbery. Bizarrely for such a quasi-nationalistic film, it sports a subplot in which a "Mexican" wine maker bashes white Americans for not valuing either land or the art of fermentation. Our heroes, two American underdogs, eventually prove him wrong; they produce wine so pure that it's white rather than red! And our "Mexican"? He's slowly and unceremoniously jettisoned from the film. And the French? They're schooled in the art of real wine-making. USA! USA! USA! "Bottle Shock" stars Eliza Dushku in a small but cute role as a local bar owner. Elsewhere Chris Pine is funny as a Californian beach bum, and the film is awash with grandiose helicopter shots, all of which glide across unending acres of sparkling, Californian plantations. The film was bashed by film critics, but never pretends to be anything other than a middle finger to connoisseurs.7.9/10 – Worth one viewing. See "Mondovino", "Corked" and "This Earth is Mine".

To compare this movie to sideways is a JOKE. In fact, I believe that the comparison that I keep seeing to sideways is what has been getting this movie such negative press. Bottle Shock was a delightful, playful, telling of the story of Château Montelena, which won the 1976 Paris blind tasting in regards to Chardonnay. There is just enough comic relief to keep viewers happy, and the story has its ups and downs, keeping the viewer engaged as well. Not to mention, this is, by all means, a star studded feature. Just because you do not see Brad Pitt or George Clooney, does not mean this film is lacking in star power. Chris Pine (who is now captain James T. Kirk) and Bill Pullman (he's the guy who always plays our president in blockbuster films, e.g. Independence Day) do just fine on their own. Throw in Dennis Farina (Law and Order) and Alan Rickman (Snape in Harry Potter) and you have more star power that most movies can hope to gather. Long story short, the correct cast was billed for the telling of this wonderful event in American history. You do not have to be a wine enthusiast to enjoy this movie.