Bottle Shock

Here's another movie nobody knows about, but should.

Great small films are like walking on a dirt road and looking down to see a diamond in your path. Unlikely. Unpredicted. Certainly welcomed.

I knew little about "Bottle Shock." Indeed, it was sampled primarily because a Saturday night movie was in order and we were still seeing the dregs of summer populating the big screens. Essentially, it was really the only movie out there that appeared to have developed by a person with a brain.

Brain, indeed. You also see one to see "Bottle Shock." Because it is sharp, intelligent, and educational. The movie tells the tale of when, back in the polyester-laden 70s, the Northern California wine industry made its first inroads. And beat the scummy French in a blind taste testing that was initiated by famed wine expert Steven Spurrier. Naturally, any story that winds up with France on the losing end of any argument is aces in my deck. But, this indeed did happen and was the watershed moment in making Napa Valley and its wine-growing environs a viable entity when it came to harvesting the grape.

I really knew little about wine myself. I learned a bit from one friend several years ago who liked to collect it. And there's another friend who does PR for some wineries overseas. But, I had no previous concept of anything that I learned in "Bottle Shock." All this education went down as well as the finest Cabernet. Heck, I even learned what the title means and you will have to see it to figure it out for yourself. Let's just say, it refers to a very significant plot turn.

Alan Rickman is marvelous as Spurrier and I can't ever remember a film where he wasn't perfect as a British snob. My biggest fear is that he really is one. The rest of the cast is spot-on and there's not a clunker of an acting choice in the bunch. They all come together to provide a throughly fascinating diversion for any evening. I am sensing there is strong word of mouth. The theater was packed and there was applause at the end. A great reminder that films can work. And move you and teach you and entertain you.

And leave you longing for a hearty glass of red.

Dinner last night: Grilled chicken and vegetables at the NY abode.