Movie Trailer - Uncork 'Bottle Shock'

I had the chance to see this trailer before a movie screening earlier this week, so I thought I'd share it with you for one simple reason: Alan by God Rickman. If you don't have a healthy admiration for Rickman by now, there's no helping you. There aren't too many actors who, when the show up in a movie, you think to yourself, "Oh, this ought to be good." Rickman's right in that group. He made such a great first impression in Die Hard, and has followed it up by playing Rasputin, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Severus Snape, and of course, Alexander Dane in Galaxy Quest. The guy's extremely versatile, although I suspect most of us like his work more when he's playing comedy, because he's so good at it. Now Rickman has another comedic role in Bottle Shock, and he looks as strong as ever in it, playing British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, who would later coach the Florida Gators football team. Or maybe I have him confused with someone else. Spurrier organized the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, which for the first time allowed American vintages into the competition. A blind taste test, it was supposed to prove whether or not the French did indeed corner the market on quality wine. The ensemble comedy also stars Bill Pullman, Chris Pine and Freddy Rodriguez, as well as Rachael Taylor from Transfomers and Eliza Dushku. Look for Bottle Shock in theaters beginning this August.

Comments

[Orinn]

Huh, all I can see is Snape, which says a lot about me and so little about this trailer.

[David Gaier]

Mr. Rickman doesn't really look like Steve Spurrier, but then again, that's why they call it "acting."

The movie is a lot of fun but it's of course been sensationalized, and disappointingly, the official website isn't even working right now although it appears to be live.

Go see the movie for a fun night out, but if you want the real story, read "Judgment of Paris" by George Taber, the Time magazine journalist (and the only writer) present at the event. Wine lovers will enjoy the details (others probably won't get through the first chapter) and the consternation of the French, bested at the game they invented and mostly perfected.