Category: Based on a True Story

DreamWorks Financial Troubles May Sink Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’

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Okay, there is a lot of financial jargon in Kim Masters’ article on DreamWorks’ financial problems over at The Big Money.   The short and skinny of it is that Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ may be deader than the actual president.

Here’s an excerpt from the article that says everything:

Spielberg has been developing the project for years and now hopes to start filming within weeks. But DreamWorks’ money troubles have cost him. This past weekend, he’s been waiting for executives at Paramount—the studio he ditched last year—to decide whether to make the film and hire him to direct it. (Update: A knowledgeable source told me on Wednesday that Paramount has passed on ‘Lincoln’.)

So now Paramount is deciding whether it wants to make ‘Lincoln’. The decider is Brad Grey—the man the DreamWorks team treated for a long time as a mortal enemy. Paramount already passed on ‘Lincoln’ a couple of years ago, citing the size of the budget. Since then, Spielberg has trimmed the cost to about $50 million. Still, this doesn’t seem like an easy call: The Lincoln movie—an earnest 19th-century drama—calls to mind one of Spielberg’s least commercially successful films, ‘Amistad’.

So, it doesn’t look well for Spielberg’s passion project. There has been news about this film for years.   I think I remember hearing about this way back on Corona Coming Attractions when the Internet was young and hypercolor t-shirts were in style.

What do you think?   Should Paramount back Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’?   Should the film get financed, should Spielberg stick with Liam Neeson as his first choice for the title role?   Were hypercolor t-shirts ever really in style?   Let us know by commenting below!

Source: The Big Money

McGuigan to Direct ‘Capa’ Biopic for Brosnan

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Pierce Brosnan’s production company is putting together a biopic about Robert Capa, a Hungarian-born photojournalist well-known for his photography depicting the wars of his era. Paul McGuigan (Push) is set to direct the dramatic and engaging story about one of the most influential men in photojournalism.

Born Andre Friedmann in early-20th century Budapest, Capa memorialized many conflicts, including the Spanish Civil War and World War II. The colorful journalist also helped found Magnum Photos and traveled in glamorous circles that included a friendship with John Steinbeck and an affair with Ingrid Bergman.

Capa, who was killed in 1954 when he stepped on a land mine during the Indochina War, perhaps is best known for his photos of D-Day. He was one of the few photographers to land on the beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, and capture images of the Allied invasion. — HR

This is a perfect example of the type of biopic film I yearn for. Capa’s story NEEDS to be told on film and I even smell an Oscar nod (I know, it’s a bit early) if done well. That, of course, is a BIG “if” and much of it depends on who gets cast. Nonetheless, I am thrilled to see this movie is getting made!

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

UPDATE: A source has informed me of the following additional details regarding this production:

The script (finished) is by Jonathan Marc Feldman. It covers the Spanish Civil war, World War II and the Hollywood years. There are big parts for someone to play Ingrid Bergman, Gerda Taro, Martha Gellhorn, Hemingway, Irwin Shaw and John Steinbeck. They are beginning to cast.

Halle Berry to become ‘Doris Payne’

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Halle Berry has signed on to star in ‘Who is Doris Payne’, which is to be developed by J2 partners Justin Berfield and Jason Felts. Â  Sitcom writer Eunetta Boone is scripting.

The film tells the true story of Doris Payne, who spent decades as a jewel thief. Â  This bit of information comes from Wikipedia:

Her modus operandi was to enter jewelry stores posing as a well-to-do woman, typically looking for a diamond ring. Using her natural grace and charm, she would engage the clerk, asking to see an assortment of items. Eventually, she would “cause the clerk to forget” just how many items were outside the case, and at some point she would leave with one or two pieces.

Her career spanned decades, states, and even countries. She was arrested many times, but was generally more successful then not. Currently she is serving a sentence in Las Vegas  for stealing a ring from Neiman Marcus.

No director is attached as of yet.

Source: Variety

Sam Rockwell joins cast of legal drama

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Sam Rockwell, one of the coolest character actors out there today, has signed on to play a convicted felon in a new legal drama. No, it’s not ‘Erin Brockovich 2’… it’s called ‘Betty Anne Waters’, originally written by Pamela Gray and re-written by Richard LaGravenese (PS, I Love You), it’s being directed by Tony Goldwyn (The Last Kiss). The film already has Hilary Swank starring with Minnie Driver on the supporting cast.

The film is based on the true story of Waters (Swank), an unemployed single mother who saw her brother convicted for a murder-robbery in 1983 and sentenced to life in prison. Convinced of his innocence, she spent the next decade earning a law degree and working on her brother’s case. Rockwell plays the brother. — HR

[source: Hollywood Reporter]

Review: ‘Defiance’

Jeremy:

‘Defiance’, the new World War II drama from director Edward Zwick is a lesson in a good movie that falls short of greatness at several instances. It tells the type of story that Hollywood dreams about. A group of underdogs who must survive the bitter environment while the threat of capture and death surrounds them at every turn. Zwick’s direction is aesthetically fine, but it never really captures the story’s epic nature.

Written by Clayton Frohman and Zwick from the novel by Nechama Tec, ‘Defiance’ tells the story of the Bielski brothers. In 1941, just after Poland is invaded by Nazi Germany, the Jewish brothers took refuge in the forests they grew up around. Accompanying them in the forest are a handful of Jews, a group whose numbers quickly grow. Before long, the brothers are leading an entire community in the forest, fighting for their survival against the cold, the hunger and the invading enemy.

The film tells us that by 1944, the camp lead by the brothers became home for over 1200 fleeing Jews. This is told to us by narration that comes up just before the end credits. However, the film never really shows this. Instead, the main focus falls on the dichotomy of the brothers.

There’s Tuvia, played by Daniel Craig, who is the oldest brother and the leader of the community. There is Zus, played by Liev Schreiber, the fighter of the group whose motto is “Blood for blood† and would rather fight off Germans than help the community strive. There are two more brothers, Asael, played by Jamie Bell, and Aron, played by George MacKay. Asael’s individual story unfolds within the film, but the real driving force behind the film is in the relationship between the two oldest Bielski brothers.

We are shown a few other relationships between secondary characters, and the film’s scope is more intimate than it needs to be. With a $50 million budget and the director of ‘Glory’ and ‘The Last Samurai’ behind it, the film should have been much more epic.

The screenplay falls into Hollywood convention a few too many times, as well. You know at every step of the way when things are going to go right for the community and when things are going to go horribly wrong. We even get the compulsory rousing speech by Tuvia while he paces back and forth on horseback in front of the group. It’s not as ridiculously trite as it could have been, but its mere presence cries out conventionality.

But, if you think the propelling speech is a Tinseltown staple for films like this, wait until you see the ending. I won’t give away much detail, but, apparently, Poland is about the size of a football field, and everyone involved in the story just happens to converge on the exact same location at the exact same time. It may have happened in actuality this way. If it did, than I take this criticism back, but it just seemed all too convenient for the sake of ending the film. Too much is wrapped up is too little a time.

However, there are great things about ‘Defiance’. The film looks amazing. Eduardo Serra pulled cinematography duties, and he does an incredible job. Particularly in the scenes during the wintry months, Serra shoots the snowy trees and mountains beautifully.

There are certain moments in the film where Zwick’s direction and the editing by Steven Rosenblum are emotionally involving. One scene that shows this better than any other is actually two scenes juxtaposed together. One is of a wedding and the other is of an attack on a Nazi caravan. The two are edited together perfectly, and it makes for a very powerful scene.

The acting is impeccable. Craig has a way of pulling off the reluctant hero with ease while, at the same time, forcing this sense of leadership that the character calls for. So much of Craig’s acting comes from his eyes, their movement, what other characters they fall on. Even when he is spouting the obligatory speech, he comes off convincing. He projects so much with just one look, and his performance in ‘Defiance’ is outstanding.

However, as good as Craig is, the best acting in the film comes from Schrieber. He brings an amazing range to Zus Bielski that the character definitely needs. From hard to soft in the blink of an eye, and always able to pull off some nicely timed comedy amidst all the depression, Schrieber does everything possible to make his character believable. Schrieber even shows his action star chops in a few of the more exciting scenes.

‘Defiance’ is a film with issues. It is the type of story that could have made for an incredibly epic film, but the scope used to tell the story here doesn’t lend for that type of film. Between that and the various conventional potholes the screenplay falls into, the film is anything but perfect. Nevertheless, the amazing camera work and the staggering acting puts this head and shoulders above many other World War II films of recent memory.

[Overall: 3.5 stars out of 5]

Travis:

Let’s face it. While Edward Zwick may not be the best filmmaker out there, but he’s no amateur. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’d be hard pressed to find a filmmaker better suited to tell an incredible story in a time and setting surrounded by war and violence.

If you asked me why I love war films so much, I’m not sure I could properly put it into words. With that said, I’ve seen more than my share and there are many out there. I have nothing bad to say about more recent films like ‘Saving Private Ryan’ or ‘Thin Red Line’. I loved both of these movies. What I find fascinating is the track record Zwick has with making well-told human dramas that take place in a war-torn time and place.

I am still most fond of ‘Glory’ as Zwick’s biggest accomplishment, but ‘Defiance’ had me fully engrossed in it’s story and will likely fit nicely into the second place spot in my book. ‘Defiance’ tells the story of the Bielski brothers who lose their entire family to a German massacre of their rural town in Belorussia during the Nazi raid of the area. While the Nazi SS death squads and local police under the control of the Germans spread across the land killing Jews, Tuvia (Daniel Craig) and Zus (Liev Schreiber) Bielski lead a group of Jewish survivors deep into the woods to try and rebuild a new life and survive for as long as they can.

It doesn’t take long before Tuvia realizes that this undertaking will be more difficult than he imagined. As word spreads amongst the Jewish people in surrounding areas, more and more refugees from their own land find their way to the Bielski’s camp in the woods. With food and supplies dwindling, Zus finds himself torn between the insurmountable task of feeding and protecting an ever-growing community of Jewish survivors and his desire to fight the Germans instead of simply surviving.

Tuvia and Zus struggle with each other as they find themselves taking separate and opposite paths towards the same ultimate goal of regaining their freedom from the Germans. Zwick does a fantastic job of focusing on the human elements of the story. ‘Defiance’ has just enough scenes of war violence to remind us in just the right moments that it is a brutal time of fear and death. Zwick brilliantly taps into the anxiety and constant dread that must have haunted the forest camp survivors every day, not knowing each morning if this would be the day that the Germans would find them. Once winter arrives, Zwick manages to convincingly portray the suffering of the people who have minimal clothing, shelter and even less food.

Amidst the many accomplishments of ‘Defiance’ are a surprisingly honest performance from Daniel Craig, and an equally commendable performance from Jamie Bell (Asael Bielski) and the rest of the cast. The stand-out performance however goes to Liev Schreiber who was amazing. James Newton Howard (The Dark Knight) delivers a passionate score and Eduardo Serra (What Dreams May Come) adds a wonderful element of time and mood with his cinematography.

As I first left the theater, I found myself still within the story and weighing the effects it had on me. I made an attempt to get beyond my initial emotions of the story and determine what did and did not work, but what I found was that I had little to complain about with this film other than the beginning and the end. The opening scene attempts to transport us in time by recreating the feel of old grainy black-and-white 16mm German film reels of Jews being slaughtered, but the effect is lost because the effects feel fake and we already understood the time and place going into the theater. The ending was fine for a Hollywood film, and if the ending is how the story actually went then so be it, but it felt a tad too convenient to have actually happened as it does in the movie. Otherwise, ‘Defiance’ is an excellent and important movie.

[Overall: 4.25 stars out of 5]

Review: ‘Cadillac Records’

Jeremy:

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, ‘Cadillac Records’ would be an enjoyable experience for someone not even watching the screen. A film about the rise of Chess Records, which recorded albums for Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James, and a whole lot more, would be expected to have one of the coolest soundtracks of the year. The soundtrack for ‘Cadillac Records’ doesn’t disappoint one bit.

But the film’s positive attributes don’t stop just at the ear level. Darnell Martin, who also wrote the screenplay, moves the story along at a roadrunner’s pace. Waters, played by the phenomenal Jeffrey Wrights, goes from working in the fields of Mississippi to playing his guitar in the streets of Chicago to blasting out hit records in the Chess Records studios in a matter of minutes. Chess Records founder Leonard Chess, played by Adrien Brody, goes from owning a scrap metal dump to owning a bar to owning Chess Records at the same rate of speed. It’s these two characters, Beyonce Knowles’ James comes in later, who make up the backbone of the film’s early storyline.

As Chess Records grows and its artists make more and more number one hit records, Chess and Waters learn the hard way that fame and fortune without responsibility begets ruin. With every hit record, Chess buys that particular artist a brand new Cadillac. He divvies up royalties like Monopoly money. At one point, Howlin’ Wolf (Eammon Walker), who has a knack for flaunting his talent not his riches, explains to Waters that he owns his vehicle. His vehicle doesn’t own him. A rivalry is pretty much conceived immediately.

This idea of rising to fortune too quickly and not learning how to handle it isn’t anything new, but Martin shows this with a brutal eye. This is all the more evident in Little Walter, played by Columbus Short, an extremely talented harmonica player who went from bad to worse to even worse in the way he treated himself and those around him. He quickly becomes an alcoholic and a heroin abuser, and these scenes are the only time that ‘Cadillac Records’ seems to fall into the typical, musical biopic.

At one point early in the film, Waters offers Walter a drink from his flask. At first Walter refuses, but Waters insists he takes one drink just to numb the pain he is feeling about his mother dying. Walter comments that he’s just going to take one drink, he does, and you know where it’s going from the start. Before you can blink an eye, the hotheaded, juice harp player is a raging alcoholic driving around in a Cadillac without doors and even going to the extremes of shooting a man in cold blood with little intention.

It’s pretty late in the game before Mos Def’s Berry duck walks or Knowles’ Etta James belts out “At Last†, but seeing these two actors in these performances are a real treat. In fact, most everyone in the film does a great job of mimicking their respective characters and showing off their individual acting prowess with Wright and Def leading the pack. As good as he is, Adrien Brody always seems to be playing Adrien Brody, and he doesn’t offer much of anything else here. Cedric the Entertainer, who plays songwriter Willie Dixon, also has a habit of playing himself time and time again. He does so here, too, and it’s unfortunate that he also offers voiceover narration throughout the film.

That aspect of the film is probably the worst thing about it. The narration cuts in at the most inopportune times and offers nothing relevant that isn’t already apparent by what is happening on screen. You never buy Mr. The Entertainer as Dixon, either. It’s always Cedric the Entertainer’s voice you hear in the narration, and it’s distracting.

‘Cadillac Records’ is a film that is disjointed at times and at other times oppressive in the message it is trying to convey. On top of all that, the film offers some great performances and has some of the coolest music ever to be recorded. If the Academy Awards gave an Oscar for Best Soundtrack, ‘Cadillac Records’ would be a shoe-in for a nomination. It comes as no surprise when it is explained at the beginning of the end credits that every character involved in Chess Records went on to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. ‘Cadillac Records’ is a commendable depiction of the highs and lows that came from creating a brand new genre of music.

[Overall: 3.5 stars out of 5]

Ram Man:

In a time when everyone just saw black and white, Lenny Chess and Chess Records used innovative music to integrate the industry. ‘Cadillac Records’ tells the story of Lenny’s recording company, the sound he mastered  and the  legends of Rock and R&B he discovered.

It is 1956 and a polish immigration on the south side of Chicago starts up a recording company, Chess Records. Leonard Chess (Adrienne Brody) discovers a Mississippi sharecropper with genius skills with a guitar. His name…Muddy Waters. Muddy (Jeffery Wright) and his band changed the sound of the blues and soon topped the charts. Leonard bestowed to Muddy, what soon became the trademark of Chess records, a brand new Cadillac. Chess also brought new sounds to the radio.   Leonard was the first to amplify a harmonica on one of Muddy’s songs. Chess brought in a songwriter Chuck Dixon (Cedric the Entertainer) who assisted Muddy and assist with the careers of Little Wayne and Howlin Wolf.   You get to hear some classic Muddy Waters blues including “I’m a Man” and the classic “Hoochie Coochie Man”.

Chess Records was soaring. Muddy Waters was the sound of the black community. That was Leonard’s problem. Leonard knew what the people wanted and he was going to find the music to unite a nation. Enter St. Louis’ own Chuck Berry (Mos Def). Berry brought Rock ‘n’ Roll to Chess records. Prior to this all black music were considered “race records” and only played on a few radio stations mainly in the south. Then “Maybalene” and “No Particular Place To Go” crossed over, shot up the billboard charts and unified the public at all Berry’s shows.   One of the best scenes in the film has   Leonard and Berry sitting down with DJ Alan Freed (Eric Bogosian) and the music legend Freed telling them he is going to make Chess rich and Chuck famous. This brings a smile to Berry’s face only he switches seats with Leonard, Chuck wants the money.

Chess was on top again. Muddy’s sales were down, but Chuck berry was fueling the chess record engine. That is until his vice brings him back to Earth. Chuck is arrested for transporting a minor across state lines and is sent to jail. Leonard is forced again to find a new artist to keep the money flowing in.   In walks Etta James (Beyonce).   Leonard found the voice to make the whole world fall in love and it was hidden in the body of a beautiful black woman with blonde hair. Beyonce is an established singer but shines as an actress in the role she was made for. You will get goose bumps when you hear her belt out “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind” and the classic “Once In A Lifetime”.

No matter what kind of music you are into, ‘Cadillac Records’ will have you tapping your toes. more than a mere movie, it is piece of American history. Chess Records changed the face of music and contributed to some major recording artist we listen to today. A cameo of one such group appears in the film when, in 1964, The Rolling Stones stopped by to record their “2120 S. Michigan” at Chess Records. The Stones took their name from the great Muddy Waters. Go check out ‘Cadillac Records’ and enjoy a fabulous film jam packed with loads of music straight out of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

[Overall: 4 stars out of 5]

Quin:

It seems like a lot of movies are being produced by unknown companies and there starting to give the big players like Paramount and Warner Bros. a run for their money. Such company is Sony Music Pictures the company behind Cadillac Records. Cadillac Records was a great depiction were music was a form life and you had to bring something new because the music scene was ever changing. The movie encompasses the times with the characters that were introduced in a manner that tied the movie together well.

All the actors involved in this movie did a great job in being some of the biggest names of a very well known era. Going along with the characters all of them had very memorable entrances that gave the audience an idea of who these people were beyond the music they performed. Now in that same light this was not a movie that gave you true accounts of the relationships that developed even some of the characters lives. However it really didn’t matter because the movie flowed effortlessly with the help of the cast. It was one of those pictures that when the movie was over you would say “Well that was something†.

I was truly stunned by Beyonce’s performance as Etta James. Honestly I wasn’t sure the singer / actress could pull off such a character like Etta James. Also the fact that  Beyonce’s first call to the silver screen was playing Carmen a MTV feature, honestly that doesn’t really say a lot in acting department. Watching the movie she was the one that I felt accomplished the role with the kind of emotion needed for such a dynamic woman.

This was a movie that was set in a time were race was prevalent but the way the movie was filmed race did not seem so important except for Chuck Berry, played by Mos Def. Overall I liked the realism of this movie and how anyone could relate to having hard times, not feel part of something special, and even not knowing who you are. Adding to that is the diverse culture of music in this move like the introductions of The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and the Rolling Stones who all had a connection to one of the main players of the movie, which made the picture go full circle in how music travels beyond the world we live in. I have to say this was one of the best music movie pictures I have seen in a long time, musicals aside.

I give Cadillac Records a 4 out of 5 stars, and a definite spot in The Hall of Fame like the rest of these great musicians that rocked this movie.

WAMG First Look at ‘Front of the Class’

Before you  question me for posting an article about a made-for-TV Hallmark movie, let me explain… I am paying attention to this one in particular because it hits close to home. The film tackles an issue in America (and obviously other cities in the world) that is lacking in awareness. The film is based on  a true story about Brad Cohen, from the book co-written by Lisa Wysocky. Brad Cohen is a man with Tourette Syndrome who overcomes his obstacles and becomes a great teacher. It’s refreshing to see a movie that offers support of people with Tourette Syndrome instead of using it as a comical crutch like so many movies have recently done. (i.e. Duece Bigelow, etc.) To my recollection, the last relatively “known” movie to depict Tourette Syndrome in a  realistic light was ‘The Tic Code’ starring Gregory Hines.

It is extremely difficult to get  an accurate figure on how  many children and adults are affected by Tourette Syndrome, but authoritative estimates place it around 200,000 in the United States alone. Having myself been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of 12, my experience growing up was significantly  influenced by how my  “tics” were perceived by those at school, both from  students and teachers alike. I can attest that without promoting awareness of Tourette Syndrome and encouraging an understanding of it, the experience of young people with Tourette Syndrome can often be difficult. I am fortunate that most of my  tics have  subsided with age, and with the help of some very wise people in my life,  but this is not the case for many.  I encourage everyone make an effort to watch this movie, especially if you have children… have them watch it with you as well.

‘Front of the Class’ is scheduled to air on CBS: Sunday, December 7, 2008 @ 9:00pm EST.

The national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. is very excited to announce the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV presentation of Front of the Class, which will premiere on Sunday, December 7, 2008, at 9:00 pm EST on CBS.

Front of the Class is inspired by the true story of Brad Cohen, a young man diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome who overcomes considerable odds to become a gifted teacher. Based on Brad’s award winning book, Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had, this poignant TV feature is an accurate and inspiring depiction of this much misunderstood neurological disorder.

The adult Brad is played by Jimmy Wolk (The Spiral Project) and young Brad is played by Dominic Scott Kay (Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End). Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Treat Williams (Everwood) play Brad’s parents.

When growing up, teachers and other adults – even Brad’s father – interpreted his involuntary sounds and sudden jerking movements as attempts to get attention. He was teased by other kids. As a result, he hated school, until his school principal recognized and acknowledged that Brad’s acting up was actually a result of his Tourette Syndrome symptoms. His principal chose to use an all-school assembly to educate both the faculty and his fellow students about the disorder. This dramatic incident was pivotal in helping Brad win their understanding and acceptance.

At that point, Brad decided to become the teacher he never had. But that ambition was more easily stated than achieved. Despite an impressive college record and glowing recommendations, getting a job was an almost insurmountable challenge. He was turned down in 24 consecutive interviews. His 25th interview finally resulted in a job offer.

Brad’s openness about having Tourette Syndrome, as well as his easy-going manner and gentle humor, quickly won over his young students. In addition to the standard curriculum, the students learned valuable lessons in understanding and tolerance. At the end of the year, Brad was named Georgia’s outstanding first-year teacher.

Oscar winner Peter Werner (Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy) directed from a script by Tom Rickman (whose screenplay for Tuesdays with Morrie won a Humanitas Prize and Writers Guild Award; the film won six Emmys, including Outstanding Movie). Andrew Gottlieb (The Russell Girl) is the producer; Brent Shields (Sweet Nothing in My Ear) and Tim Shriver (Amistad) are the executive producers.

— Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.

Review: ‘Changeling’

Travis:

Clint Eastwood, as a director, is one of your more consistent directors of drama working today. Not every movie he makes is great, but he also never makes a terrible movie. Eastwood tends to hang out in that sombre central zone of filmmaking where he steps lightly into controversial material and then sort of amazes you how he maintains such a realistic and level-headed film that tells a great story.

‘Changeling’ is about a single mother in 1928 Los Angeles whose son turns up missing. Jolie plays Christine Collins, a woman who learns first hand about the corruption embedded within the powers that be at that time as she fights to find her son, despite the LAPD’s persistent refusal to admit it screwed up. The story is all about a woman that finds herself truly testing her own resolve and being pushed to the limits of what it means to be strong and fight for what you believe. John Malkovich offers a typical yet entertaining performance as Rev. Gustav Briegleb, a popular Protestant preacher who comes to Christine’s defense.

‘Changeling’ is a perfect example of this ability in Eastwood to tell a fascinating and moving story without falling victim to Hollywood’s addiction to adding glitz and glamour and over-exaggerated melodrama. One of the most significant ways in which Eastwood achieves this is by working within his own realm, his own universe, in all areas of the creative process from cinematography to the acting and even the score, which the less-familiar filmgoer would likely not believe that Eastwood can write some great orchestral work… not to mention his incredible sense of jazz.

I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to be a sucker for movies based on true stories. I’m even more fascinated by the true stories I’ve never heard of before and this one really had me wrapped around its little finger. But there’s two sides to every coin and this one is that my bias towards true stories makes it difficult to accurately judge the movie in an objective light. So, here’s what it boils down to… ‘Changeling’ is better than good, but not quite great. I am certainly not going to jump on the Best Picture band wagon destined for Oscar-town, and I’m currently sitting on the fence over whether it’s even nominee-worthy. The color palette chosen for ‘Changeling’ nails that sombre mood that Eastwood cherishes so much, but it also sort of reacts with the 141 minute running time like two contradicted medications being taken together and resulting in a minor risk of short-term coma. I’m not suggesting that the film is boring. It certainly is not that, but it is a film that travels at about the same pace, perhaps slightly behind that of ‘Unforgiven’.

So, I have to ask myself… if the film really was “nearly” great, what was that element that held it back? The more I think about this and the more I resist the direction my mind wants to go, the more I become more certain of the flaw in ‘Changeling’. Eastwood took a chance on Hilary Swank in ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and scored, despite the controversy over the second half. With ‘Changeling’ Eastwood takes a gamble on Angelina Jolie and doesn’t lose his shirt, but his winnings are skimpy. I didn’t realize at first, while fully engrossed in the story, that Jolie had such an effect on me, but as I neared the end of the film I realized it was her performance that was holding ‘Changeling’ back from its full potential. Jolie was not over-the-top and she wasn’t inadequate, but she sort of dodged the sweet zone the entire film. What I mean is that her performance managed to envelop every aspect of quality except the most crucial… authenticity. What I realized as I left the theater is that Jolie never sold me on the character. I never managed to buy into her performance fully. While subtle, it often felt forced and insincere. Granted, I’ll admit that a part of this was the realization that I had trouble getting past the fact that I was watching Angelina Jolie. I think she’s somewhat typecast herself into a quasi-pigeonhole of badass and/or sexy roles… of which she is neither in this film.

[rating:4/5]

Zac:

Clint Eastwood’s latest is a child abduction mystery that is a horse of many colors, and all are done very well, with a great turn by the lead Angelina Jolie, but something keeps the film back from being truly as great and powerful as some of his recent work.

In 1928 Christine Collins is a floor manager at the Pacific Bell switch board, rolling around on her skates taking care of unruly customers and making sure the lines stay up and open. She lives as a single mother with her son and they have an amazing relationship, taking Walter to school every morning on her way to work. One Saturday she is called into work to fill in for a missing worker, and she leaves Walter at home with a word to the neighbor to check on him in a coupe hours. When she gets home, Walter is gone, and a quick search of the surrounding area yields no results, which leads her to calling in a missing person report. After a few months pass, Christine receives word that her son is found and alive, and the police escort her to the train station to meet him upon his return. But when Christine sees him, she proclaims, “that’s not my son,” and it takes some quick words from, Capt. Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) who is in charge of juvenile cases in the LAPD, to convince her to take him home for a trial run, since the boy might have changed in appearance due to her and his stress over the time he was gone; though Jones’ words don’t stick for long.

Also getting involved in the investigation is a Rev. Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich) who spends much of his time calling out Chief James E. Davis (Colm Feore) for his and his police departments corrupt acts all around the city, [Briegleb] attempting to bring public justice and reform to the LAPD. Also falling into play is a child deportation case that leads to much graver implications to everything in play.

Eastwood has crafted a very effective mystery here that moves from one storyline to another without getting jumbled up or dragging. He makes all threads compelling, slowly bringing them together, while simultaneously creating a beautiful recreation of the era to the screen along with some haunting visuals added in as well. Eastwood also does a fine job at lightening up the proceedings from time to time, which is necessary with this subject matter that can get grim and depressing, and he shows great range in taking us from a serious moment to making us smile, sometimes even in the midst of crisis. The movie is about two and a half hours long, but it never bores and constantly engages and that is thanks to the great cast Eastwood has going for him.

Angelina Jolie is great in this film. She is distraught over her loss, but holds her head up with strength and manages to work through her grief while never giving up hope. She also just commands a few scenes that really pin you to your seat at how powerful she can be; especially breaking out of her quiet shell that Christine is day to day. She also does some great work with the kids she works with, especially creating such a strong bond with Walter (Gattlin Griffith) in such a short amount of screen time the two have together. John Malkovich brings humor and courage to his role, and makes the most of his short amount of screen time. A straight forward guardian angel roll over Christine allows the viewer to easily get behind him and hoping he is able to help her along. Jason Butler Harner and Eddie Alderson also deserve praise for their work, as they both step up in creepy and unsettling roles later on in the film. Geoff Pierson also chews up and steals every scene he is in and has one of the most uplifting lines and moments in the film as a prosecuting attorney. Lastly, Amy Ryan also makes the most of her scenes, which I again, can’t really elaborate on without being a spoiler.

In the end, Changeling is a very effective period drama missing that magic bit that puts it with the elite. Full of suspense and drama, with just enough laughs when needed, it is expertly crafted by Eastwood and acted by Jolie, I just wish something would have clicked and made this amazing in my mind because it is a movie that you can complain very little about.

[rating: 4.25/5]

Ram Man:

I always love it when those magic five words show up on the screen before the movie gets rolling….”Based on a True Story”. This is the case with Clint Eastwood’s new film ‘The Changeling’. Eastwood has brought the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders to the big screen just in time to get Oscar voter’s attention. Clint has brought in  the star power of Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich  to help tell the story. ‘Changling’ morphs from a missing persons case into one of the most horrific cases in California’s history.

It’s 1928 in southern California. Prohibition is in full swing. The motto of the Los Angeles Police Dept. is more like “extort and murder” than “protect and serve”.   Christine Collins (Jolie) is an operator supervisor at the phone company. Christine is also a single mother of an 8 year boy, Walter (Gattlin Griffith).   Upon returning home after a 12 hour shift, Christine finds Walter is missing. She calls the police and is told that they will do nothing until the following day. Capt. JJ Jones (Jeffrey Donovan) is in charge of the adolescent division of the LAPD and is running the case of Walter Collins. A major break comes when a hobo abandons a boy in rural Illinois at a diner. the call comes in to Capt. Jones and he jumps to the conclusion, he is Walter Collins. He, Christine and the members of the press all meet the train carrying Walter. Only after one look, Christine announces that the boy is not Walter.

Instead of an apology or even an oops, Christine is told that she is stressed and time has passed and Walter has changed. Capt. Jones tells her to take the boy home, he has no where to go. just give him a try. This is a missing child not a pair of shoes! Christine takes the unknown boy home and soon discovers glaring differences (3″ shorter and this boy was circumcised) and brings them to Capt. Jones attention.   Again,   instead of cooperation, Christine is threatened by the police Capt. and told to go home “Walter was found.”

Enter Rev. Gustav Breigleb (Malkovich), an evangelist that conducts a nightly radio show from his church pulpit denouncing the atrocities of the police department in the city of angels. Breigleb joins Christine Collins in her search for Walter. Collins takes her case to the press after being turned away by the police again and again. This results in her incarceration in the state mental ward so that she cannot defame the police anymore. Only problem,  Breigleb has powerful friends and a very large congregation and frees Collins just before she has the shock of her life. This is when an anonymous tip comes into the police department about a Canadian boy in the country illegally up at a chicken ranch in Wineville. Soon everyone’s story begins to unfold from Capt. Jones and the police department to the mystery boy who is NOT Walter Collins when a Canadian boy tells the story of multiple murders conducted at his Uncle’s ranch. A missing child case morphs into a multiple murder case. The end of this film will have you doing your best imitation of Columbo trying to figure out what happened to Walter Collins.

Eastwood an established actor has now proven he’s a better director. He shows us what is a fascinating story of corruption, murder and personal strength. I was so interested i search the case just to see how close Clint was to the actual events and found he hit the bulls-eye! His casting of serial killer Gordon Northcutt (Jason Butler Harner) is a dead ringer for the real guy. As I stated before I am a big fan of a well done true crime drama and this won had me on the edge of my seat.   I’m sure we will hear Jolie, Eastwood and John Malkovich’s name nest year during the Academy Awards.   Don’t fear the running time for this one, 2 hours and 20 minutes, it flies by. Go see ‘The Changling” and let Clint Eastwood “Make Your Day” …again!

[rating:4.5/5]

Jeremy:

On March 10, 1928, 10-year-old Walter Collins went missing from his home in Pomona, California. Â  His mother, Christine Collins, was at her job as an operator supervisor. Â  Being a single-parent, Christine was forced to leave her son at home alone. Â  When she arrived that evening, her son was gone.

Three months later, the LAPD told Christine they had found her son. Â  She went to the train station to meet her missing child, but, once she saw the boy, she knew instantly that it was not her son. Â  Nonetheless, the LAPD insisted that the boy they had found was Walter Collins. Â  What transpired from there was both shocking and heartbreaking.

‘Changeling’, the new film directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of Christine Collins and her missing son. Â  But, as with most of Eastwood’s films, he doesn’t simply tell the story. Â  He encapsulates the events by more or less creating the world in which they took place. Â  The 1920s California Eastwood creates and the characters he depicts in ‘Changeling’ are very genuine. Â  He’s done the same with the westerns he has directed. Â  He did the same with the 1975 Boston setting of ‘Mystic River’. Â  The same can be said for the battle of Iwo Jima he depicted not once but twice.

Eastwood has this gift for telling stories that take place in another time and place altogether. Â  His Savannah, Georgia in ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ was truly atmospheric. Â  The town of Big Whisky would not have looked nearly as authentic in ‘Unforgiven’ if it were not for his direction.

But the direction is not the only thing flawless in ‘Changeling’. Â  The story is so powerful that you don’t even realize how long-winded it really is. Â  It starts very quietly showing a few scenes of Christine interacting with her son.

It’s here that I should talk about Angelina Jolie, who plays Christine. Â  She is a fine actress. Â  You couldn’t accuse her in the least of having no range. Â  However, it seems that she hits this peak when she is trying to portray emotionality, particularly rage and anxiety. Â  She just begins screaming, and, instead of getting more and more moving, it just begins to grate on the nerves. Â  The scenes in ‘Changeling’ where she is hysterical are the only moments of the film that drag on.

And that is saying something about a film that runs nearly 2 1/2 hours long. Â  The reason the length of the film is never a factor is that the story never sits on any one element for a long period of time. Â  We are shown something, we understand its purpose, and we move onto the next thing. Â  There is so much story told in ‘Changeling’ that you are amazed at how it all could have even fit into a feature-length film. Â  Let me tell you, it does. Â  The editing is done by Eastwood regular Joel Cox and his assistant Gary Roach. Â  Roach’s only previous editing job on a feature film was ‘Letters from Iwo Jima’, and that, too, was a masterwork of an editing job. Â  If he would have worked on ‘Flags of Our Fathers’, that, too, would have been a great movie, but it’s not.

I digress.

‘Changeling’ is powerful and chilling, an incredible true-crime drama that never feels excessive or overdone. Â  It would be best for you to not read up too much about the film before seeing it. Â  The story of Christine’s son going missing, a boy returning to her, and that not being her son despite the LAPD claiming it is takes only about 30 minutes of screen time. Â  The story and what happens to Christine from there spirals out of control so quickly, you can’t believe it was based on a true story. Â  By the film’s end, you get a complete picture of what happened and why, even though there are still so many unanswered questions that really don’t matter. Â  They are meant to be unanswered, and that is where most of ‘Changeling’s mystery and grief comes from.

Besides Jolie, the film is loaded with grade-A actors. Â  John Malkovich is astonishing as a local reverend who is all about taking down the corrupt LAPD. Â  Jeffrey Donovan, fresh off his work on USA’s Burn Notice, is great as the head detective on Christine’s case. Â  He plays a villain very well, despite hiding at times behind an obviously fake, Irish accent. Â  Amy Ryan gives another resounding performance as a woman whom Christine meets on her journey. Â  As with ‘Gone Baby Gone’, Ryan disguises herself in her role and gives yet another Oscar nomination-worthy performance.

In the past 10-20 years, Eastwood has established himself as one of the best directors working today. Â  He hit a rought period in the late 90s with ‘Absolute Power’, ‘True Crime’, and ‘Space Cowboys’ that should probably be overlooked. Â  He’s hitting those years now and again where he has two very good films come out very close to one another. Â  ‘Gran Torino’ looks to be yet another powerful and dramatic feature.

With ‘Changeling’ he has once again created a brilliant depiction of another period in time. Â  The story he tells there is one of the most terrifying true stories told in recent memory. Â  It is a painful true story, but one that you will not regret witnessing.

[rating:4.25/5]

Overall: 4.25 Stars

Review: ‘The Longshots’

Travis:

Who would’ve thought Limp Bizkit front-man Fred Durst had it in him? Not me. As it turns out, I found myself in shock and awe of how well Durst did in directing this little sleeper of a movie. ‘The Longshots’ is based on a true story (you had me at that) about Jasmine Plummer, a high school girl who spends all of her free time reading, until her single mother urges her to take up some sort of after school activity while she works late. Reluctant, Jasmine (Kiki Palmer) searches for something she’d enjoy, but can’t get past the fact that the kids at school think she’s weird and keep their distance.

Jasmine’s mother Claire (Tasha Smith) practically begs her brother-in-law Curtis (Ice Cube) to spend time with Jasmine after school so she’s not alone all the time. Curtis, a former high school football star turned unemployed slacker, agrees to keep Jasmine company against his better judgment. As the two overcome a rocky beginning to their relationship, Curtis accidentally discovers an unrefined natural talent in Jasmine that peaks his interest in spending time with her. Having never even touched a football before in her life, Jasmine shows signs of being a great quarterback as she tosses the pigskin around with Curtis after school.

Eventually, with the Mendin Browns on track for yet another pathetic season, Curtis encourages jasmine to try out for the team. With a little nudging and nagging, jasmine agrees and ultimately makes the team with a little help from Curtis’ reputation with the coaches. ‘The Longshots’ has characteristic elements familiar of ‘The Bad News Bears’ but keep in mind is based on a true story. It’s a story of a girl and a small town as they both overcome odds that are stacked against them, regaining the self-respect and dignity that they’d temporarily lost as a result of hard times.

Director Fred Durst has truly surprised me with ‘The Longshots’. It’s not the fanciest film, nor is it going to redefine any aspect of filmmaking … but, Durst has managed to make one very solid film with a lot of heart and a good story. Palmer does an excellent job as Jasmine, providing a convincing and honest portrayal of the young woman who made history as the first female to play football in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Ice Cube does a decent job of being humorous when called for and sincere when needed for the dramatic elements of his character’s story. I predict this film could become a favorite amongst sports movie enthusiasts, bringing football in the movies back down to Earth.

(3.75 Hail Mary’s out of 5)

Ram Man:

When I first saw the trailers for “The Longshots“, I thought to myself “Oh Great! its the Bad News Bears play football!”. There are similarities between the films; but there is one major difference…This is a true story! Shocker #2: the same guy that came up with the song “Nookie” directed this film and its his second time in the directors chair..yes Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. Ice Cube gives one of his better performances of late as Curtis Plummer, uncle of Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) the first girl ever to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl.

Longshots tells the story of Jasmine Plummer, an 11 year old girl, social outcast at school and being raised by her mom after her dead-beat dad ran out on the family. The Plummers live in Mindin, Illinois a town on life support since closing the factory and putting the majority of its residents out of work. This included Jasmine’s uncle Curtis. Curtis was a Mindin Football star on his way to the prosuntil an accident that robbed him of football and now is just one of the many unemployed. Curtis who spends his days sucking down Budweiser and watching the pathetic local Pop Warner football team is coerced to babysit his niece. (Its the least he can do since he’s out of work and it was his brother who took off on them). After an unexpected toss of the pigskin from Jasmine, Curtis’ football fever is reborn and now wants to mold Jasmine into a football player. Only she’s a girl.

After a few weeks Jasmine is throwing darts, up and out routes and post patterns. Keke worked on throwing and calling plays at the line of scrimmage for 6 weeks to prepare for the role. It was now time to introduce Jasmine to the team and coaches. As you might suspect it goes over like a lead balloon. After a few snaps at QB and a recreation of the famous Longest Yard play to a blitzing linebacker, Jasmine is welcomed on to the team. Popularity on the gridiron doesn’t translate into the halls of school. But it is a lot easier to navigate with 10 guys on your side. After a slight heart attack by the coach, Curtis is forced to put up or shut up and trade in his beer can for a coach’s whistle. The Mindin team goes from winless to the Pop Warner Superbowl in Miami.

It’s rare when Hollywood has to tone it down in a movie based on actual events but Longshots is one of those times. Jasmine Palmer was the first girl to play in the Pop Warner Superbowl in it’s 56 year history. But she in fact had played ball since she was 6 years old and lead the Harvey Colts to an 11-1 record where as Midland had lost 4 by the time she joined. Jasmine Palmer was an athlete and a scholar maintaining an A average while playing football for Harvey. Is Longshots the best film of the year? No, but if you need a feel good, underdog, go all the way, we’re going to do it movie to pick you up..I say GO DEEP! and check out “The Longshots“. You wont be held scoreless I guarantee it, Ram Man knows football and football movies!

[rating 3.5 out of 5- a field goal not a touchdown]

[rating: 3.25/5]

Jeremy:

In the long line of sports movies that are solely made up of sports movie cliches, ‘The Longshots’ is a film that doesn’t even seem to want to be different. The film from beginning to end is just a bland rehashing of much of what has already been played out in far better films.

The film tells the true story of Jasmine Plummer, who, in 2003 at the age of 11, became the first female to play quarterback in Pop Warner football’s then 56-year history. The screenplay fictionalizes the story, setting it in the made-up town of Minden, Illinois. In the film, the girl’s uncle, played by Ice Cube, is who initally realizes her capacity for throwing the football and who is, ultimately, the driving force behind her success.

It is an admirable story to tell. It shows how a fledgling community can rise up behind one small, seemingly insignificant aspect and triumph. The Minden of the film is a troubled community that has come on hard times since the closing of a local factory. The prospect of this girl making national news for her God-given abilities helps the people in the town come together and work towards something. For that, the film is commendable. But it’s the way the story is told and the way the script is ultimately realized that makes ‘The Longshots’ just another sports movie.

The screenplay by Nick Santora is filled with everything you would expect to find in a film about kids playing football. The jokes are predictable, the beats and subplots the film takes go just about as expected, and, even when the film attempts to be emotional or suspenseful, the direction gets in the way.

The film was directed by Fred Durst, yes, that Fred Durst, and it is strictly point and shoot filmmaking that offers nothing original. It doesn’t offer anything to distract from the script’s flaws, either. If anything, Durst’s direction only enhances the predictability and triviality the screenplay offers up.

There is one bright and shining star in this film’s field of banality, however, and that is Keke Palmer. The young actress is absolutely adorable in every scene she is in. She turned heads a few years back for her performance in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’, and she is sure to do so in years to come. The honesty she gives in her performance is the only distraction the film yields from itself, and she is truly missed in the scenes where she is either absent or hidden behind football pads.

‘The Longshots’ has tons of heart, and its intentions are good. In the end, however, that simply isn’t enough, and the film falters. The cliches abound, the score manipulates, and there is nothing we haven’t already seen before. Save for a few well put together moments, a true story that had every right to be told, and one very gifted, young actress, ‘The Longshots’ presents a bland screenplay that is executed by bland filmmaking.

[rating: 2.5/5]

Review: ‘Bottle Shock’

Michelle:

‘Bottle Shock’ is a little film based on the true story of what led up to the legendary Judgement of Paris, when California wine beat French wine in a blind taste test in 1976. Directed by Randall Miller, who also wrote the screenplay along with Jody Savin and Ross Schwartz, it premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in which some of the actual players portrayed in the movie attended. “Bottle Shock” refers to vibration during travel may shock and bruise the wine and it may need up to a week to settle and return to its original color and taste.

‘Bottle Shock’ stars Bill Pullman as Chateau Montelena owner Jim Barrett and Chris Pine as his son Bo Barrett. Alan Rickman (Severus Snape in the “Harry Potter” flicks) plays Steven Spurrier, the English wine shop owner who traveled to California and arranged the tasting. Rachael Taylor (Transformers) plays a wine intern, Sam, who becomes a romantic interest for both Bo and fellow wine maker Gustavo Brambila played by Freddy Rodriguez. Chris Pine gives us a good preview of what we can expect from him in 2009 as Capt Kirk in Paramount’s ‘Star Trek.’

While not ‘Sideways,’ ‘Bottle Shock’ is so laid-back that it never quite finds its footing – comedy or drama? Or to use the vernacular – sweet or dry? This vintage of film needed a little more fermentation.

(2.5 out of 5 stars)

Travis:

Based on a true story… I love seeing those words before a movie. For me, it adds an extra element of intrigue to the story, knowing that the events I am about to experience on the big screen had in some way actually occurred in reality. These movies offer both entertainment in a more traditional cinematic setting than documentaries, while also educating or enlightening the viewer on some level. ‘Bottle Shock’ was a pleasant surprise for me, having known nothing about the film going into the screening, but leaving the theater intellectually satisfied and entertained.

Bill Pullman plays Jim Barrett, the pig-headed California wine-maker who obsessed with creating the perfect Chardonnay. He struggles with his slacker post-Woodstock hippie son Bo (Chris Pine) and the fact that he’s flat broke and owes the bank some major debt. All Jim wants is to succeed in creating a quality and successful wine, but refuses help from anyone. Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez) is perhaps his greatest asset to the winery, but when he learns that he’s been developing a wine of his own he lets him go. All of this drama and tension builds up just before Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) shows up to invite California wineries to put their wares up against that of the legendary French fares. Spurrier is a British national who loves French wine and loathes the idea of California trying to prove itself a worldly wine competitor. He stages a blind wine testing between several American and French wines with the intention to embarrass the Californian hopefuls, but instead learns for himself that the States actually have some decent wine. Thus, is the story behind the great tasting of 1976, which resulted in two distinct bottles of wine being added to the Smithsonian Institute’s permanent collection.

Everyone in this movie does a fine job. Rickman is great as the snobby Brit who wishes he were French. I especially enjoyed Freddy Rodriguez, although his role was only minimally crucial to the story. I really enjoyed his performance in ‘Lady in the Water’ (stop throwing tomatoes!) and thought he offered the same encouraging level of acting in ‘Bottle Shock’. Bill Pullman was Bill Pullman, no complaints there. The story has some light romance as well, that involves both Gustavo and Bo with an intern who wants to learn the craft of wine-making. While not as compelling or successful as ‘Sideways’ this film does still hold some of the same appeal, featuring drama with light comedy based in realistic human interactions. Definitely worth watching.

(3.5 stars out of 5)

Ram Man:

There are things that you never forget: USA vs Russia in the”Miracle on Ice”, Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, The Rams winning the Superbowl. Bottle Shock tells us another underdog story that we never knew “California vs. France in the wine showdown”. Bottle Shocktell the story of the beginnings of the Napa Valley Wine industry and their miraculous victory over the French in a blind taste test.

It is 1976, America is celebrating their Bicentennial and the French are the foremost authority on wine. Everything is about to change! Jim Barrett (Bill Puhlman) is an ex-attorney turned wine maker and owner of the Chateau Montelena winery in Napa Valley California. Jim escaped the hustle and bustle of La Law scene to pursue his dream of the perfect Chardonnay. Jim is constantly butting heads with his slacker son Bo (Chris Pine). They have a unique way of settling disputes and making decisions on the winery…in the boxing ring. Bo, who thinks he still at Woodstock, is not the help Jim needs to put Chateau Montelena on the map. Jim’s real right hand, a local worker Gustavo (Freddy Rodriegez) , is the heart of the operation. But Gusatvo has dreams of his own, mainly making his own wine label from grapes he has been secretly cultivating.

Back across the pond, Steven Spurrier(Alan Rickman) business man hoping to save his floundering Wine shop, stages a blind taste test between the great wines of France and the new upstarts in the Napa Valley in California. Spurrier has a secret agenda :embarrass the USA on an important anniversary of their independence. Spurrier travels to California to sample and choose the wines for the compitetion. His travels bring him to Chateau Montelena and Jim Barrett, who sees right through him. He denies Spurrier’s request to bring Jim’s Chardonnay to Paris. Bo realizing this is the final hope for the business secretly get the wine to Spurrier and they both collaborate to get all the wine to Paris. You are only allowed 1 carry on bottle of wine, so Steve and Bo must convince the entire flight ot bring a bottle on board. *Wine Tip* The title of the film “Bottle Shock” is a wine term that refers to wine that is more or less jet-lagged from being transported in a cargo hold. All the wine arrives safely and Both Jim and Gustavo’s wines make the competition.

A telegram arrives, informing the Barrett’s of the success and the impending competition. The other wineries receive the same telegram. Fear of a fix covers the crowd and after a small deliberation they chose to send Bo to Paris to make sure the competition is on the up and up. The contest goes on as planned and Napa wines sweep the taste test to the shock and awe of the ego inflated French. The rest as they say is history. You can tell as you walk through your local supermarket what ramifications this small piece of cultural history has made. Now you have wines from all over the Globe not just a small region in Paris.

Bottle Shock is the “Rocky” for wine lovers across the country. The film features outstanding performances from Rickman and Rodriguez and serves to inform Americans on a little known piece of it’s Nation’s accomplishment. Raise your glasses and give a toast to Bottle shock, the latest in a line of “true” underdog stories that serve to inspire and entertain us.

(3.75 out of 5)

[rating: 3.25/5]