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IMDbPro

Bottle Shock

  • 20082008
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Bottle Shock (2008)
This is the theatrical trailer for Bottle Shock, directed by Randall Miller.
Play trailer2:30
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris".The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris".The story of the early days of California wine making featuring the now infamous, blind Paris wine tasting of 1976 that has come to be known as "Judgment of Paris".
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Randall Miller
  • Writers
    • Jody Savin(screenplay)
    • Randall Miller(screenplay)
    • Ross Schwartz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chris Pine
    • Alan Rickman
    • Bill Pullman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Randall Miller
  • Writers
    • Jody Savin(screenplay)
    • Randall Miller(screenplay)
    • Ross Schwartz(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Chris Pine
    • Alan Rickman
    • Bill Pullman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 115User reviews
    • 102Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos7

    Bottle Shock: Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Bottle Shock: Theatrical Trailer
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 0:31
    Bottle Shock
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 0:45
    Bottle Shock
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 1:20
    Bottle Shock
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 1:29
    Bottle Shock
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 1:47
    Bottle Shock
    Bottle Shock
    Clip 1:38
    Bottle Shock

    Photos212

    Freddy Rodríguez and Rachael Taylor in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Bill Pullman and Chris Pine in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Alan Rickman in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Eliza Dushku in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Dennis Farina and Chris Pine in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Bottle Shock (2008)
    Freddy Rodríguez, Chris Pine, and Rachael Taylor in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Bill Pullman in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Bill Pullman and Chris Pine in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Bill Pullman and Rachael Taylor in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Alan Rickman in Bottle Shock (2008)
    Alan Rickman in Bottle Shock (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chris Pine
    Chris Pine
    • Bo Barrett
    Alan Rickman
    Alan Rickman
    • Steven Spurrier
    Bill Pullman
    Bill Pullman
    • Jim Barrett
    Hal B. Klein
    Hal B. Klein
    • Shenky
    Jean-Michel Richaud
    Jean-Michel Richaud
    • Maitre d'
    Dennis Farina
    Dennis Farina
    • Maurice Cantavale
    Kirk Baily
    Kirk Baily
    • Loan Officer
    Freddy Rodríguez
    Freddy Rodríguez
    • Gustavo Brambila
    • (as Freddy Rodriguez)
    Philippe Bergeron
    Philippe Bergeron
    • Pierre Tari
    Rachael Taylor
    Rachael Taylor
    • Sam Fulton
    Louis Giambalvo
    Louis Giambalvo
    • George Taber
    Greg Collins
    Greg Collins
    • Trucker
    Luis Saguar
    Luis Saguar
    • Man #1
    • (as Louis Saguar)
    James Hiser
    • Man #2
    Geoff Callan
    Geoff Callan
    • Man #3
    Eliza Dushku
    Eliza Dushku
    • Joe
    Miguel Sandoval
    Miguel Sandoval
    • Mr. Garcia
    Marcia Firesten
    • Karen Thompson
    • Director
      • Randall Miller
    • Writers
      • Jody Savin(screenplay) (story)
      • Randall Miller(screenplay) (story)
      • Ross Schwartz(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Jim Barrett, owner of Chateau Montelena, appears in the film as a vineyard owner who pours a wine sample for Alan Rickman. Mike Grgich, the real-life winemaker at Chateau Montelena (and the man who was most responsible for the award-winning 1973 Montelena Chardonnay), appears in several scenes at the chateau, standing next to Bill Pullman as he takes a wine sample from a barrel.
    • Goofs
      When the Napa wine makers all scramble to meet Stephen Spurrier with their bottles of wine, one person is clearly offering a prop bottle of "Canadian Club" whiskey as if it were a wine.
    • Quotes

      Jim Barrett: Why don't I like you?

      Steven Spurrier: Because you think I'm an arsehole. And I'm not, really. I'm just British and, well... you're not.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Shock! Shock! Shock! (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      China Grove
      Written by Tom Johnston

      Performed by The Doobie Brothers (as Doobie Brothers)

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

      By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews115

    Review
    Top review
    Really quite palatable.
    America; home of the free, over-sized fast-food and trash TV—at least, that's what most Europeans like to comfort themselves in thinking about their distant cousins. So who then would think, that in the 1970's, only two hundred years into the countries recent history, that this very same country would be the forefront of a wine movement that would change the industry as it was known at the time? Quite honestly, nobody did, except of course, those few American "hicks" who knew what they were doing regardless of their history and position within the sophisticated-snob wine culture of France. Bottle Shock then, with it's attempt at re-telling that story alongside plenty of character-play and drama, achieves in doing what it sets out to do by crafting an uplifting, re-affirming two hours balancing debatable fact with fiction. It's an unassuming experience for sure; wine tasting and competition isn't exactly the medium's foray when it comes to delivering attention grabbing excitement from your average audience. Yet when it comes to simply offering a modest, albeit compelling and engaging character story fit with tangible emotion and relativity, Bottle Shock isn't bad at all—in fact, it's really quite palatable indeed.

    For all that the general history behind the true story of Bottle Shock, and all that it does for the movie's plot, there still remains a distinct impression here that such involvements are secondary to the elements that are really on show here. Following five characters as they each seek out their place in life, Randall Miller's feature here sticks to the opinion that story can define characters, but that characters define the audience. Taken on a purely ostensible level, Bottle Shock would be a tired, dry and unwelcoming approach to documenting a piece of history fit only for aficionados of the wine trade. Yet by balancing out the script and action with some wonderful character developments and relationships, Miller and his ensemble of writers manage to craft a story that excites and compels by its final act, but only because the first two invest heavily in making you feel for those involved in such a struggle. The result is a slowly paced, somewhat uneven venture, but one that does eventually pay off through its use of catharsis which utilises that empathy to full effect.

    Aesthetically speaking, the movie isn't all that bad either, gracing the screen with some wonderfully tranquil photography that constantly evokes wistful, whimsical emotions fit for the existential nature of the screenplay. Alongside the cinematography also lays the somewhat majestic, but grounded score penned by Mark Adler that manages to convey the same feelings provoked by Ozier's photography, creating a formidable, cohesive whole that really brings home the themes of the feature with poignancy.

    Unfortunately, the same cannot wholly be said for the performances that at times can come off as a little disjointed and lazy. As a whole, the cast do well to keep things interesting, and bring at least a little flavour to their characters, but a common thread of awkward phrasing and timing too often breaks the illusion that Miller attempts to weave. That being said, the feature at least boasts a fine introduction for many to the talent of Chris Pine who shares the lead spot here with a coming-and-going Bill Pullman. Again, it's a timid performance fitting of the feature's rather small-time nature, but it's certainly an inviting and oft compelling portrayal that works on many levels and even helps bring out the better sides of Pullman who plays his father. As a leading man here, and indeed giving the movie its finest performance next to an ever-arresting Alan Rickman, Pine offers plenty of reason to believe the young actor has a bright future ahead of him.

    Despite all the good that the movie does however, there still remains a certain emptiness that resides within Bottle Shock's makeup. It's a feature that uplifts, and engages while it exists on screen, and yet fails to achieve a lasting connection that stays long after the credits have rolled by. In its place exists a fond memory perhaps, but one that probably won't be, and won't need to be revisited again any time soon. In that respect, Bottle Shock achieves a firm hold on its immediate audiences, but differs from its subject by neglecting holes within narrative that would otherwise have filled in lasting impressions upon those very same viewers. Nevertheless, although lacking in a few important areas of taste and refinement, Bottle Shock still permits an enjoyable and rewarding two hours of fine character drama that uplifts and tugs at heart strings.

    • A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)
    helpful•11
    6
    • Otoboke
    • Mar 30, 2009

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • What is the "Judgment of Paris" in relation to this movie?
    • What is "bottle shock"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 5, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Gyllene druvor från Montelena
    • Filming locations
      • Chateau Montelena - 1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, Napa Valley, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Shocking Bottle
      • Unclaimed Freight Productions
      • Hollywood Caterers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,078,607
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $278,075
      • Aug 10, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,629,770
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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