As it happens, when I lived in Paris, I knew several people who worked at the Caves de la Madeleine, even saw Steven Spurrier once or twice - a far more refined and poised Brit than as portrayed here. The fact that he even gets to be portrayed by Alan Rickman is piquant in itself. So I was happy to discover this film. However it turns out it's mainly about the struggles and intrigues at a California winery, crafted into an engaging if not particularly original story. Certainly , the line-up is impressive - Rickman, Bill Pullamn, Chris Pine, Dennis Farina, Bradley Whitford, Freddy Rodriguez, etc. And we get some nice glimpses of the California wine business. Disappointingly light on the main event, skipping over facts like that some of the French tasters were so upset they wanted a redo. But charming enough in its way. Poignant to see Eliza Dushku, who, after a flourishing career, won a major sexual harassment settlement, but, from what I can see, has not worked since (2017). Make of that what you will.
Review of Bottle Shock
