Reviews

So in the interest of catching up on reviews that I've been neglecting here is a new blog to...catch things up.

Brideshead Revisited- I've always thought the term "British costume drama" was rather odd. Admittedly I've used it myself but it always seems silly. Like actors don't wear costumes in every movie? Unless it's like, "Nude: The Movie - The Director's Cut (w/subtitles)." "Brideshead Revisited" will be most commonly referred to as a "British costume drama" but the drama of this film is from well drawn characters.
Introduced to the privileged lives of an upper crust family, Charles Ryder ("The Lookout's" Matthew Goode) lives a lifetime in the years leading up to WWII. Brideshead is the palatial home of the Flytes. His friend Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) introduces him to the estate and to his sister Julia (Hayley Atwell). Charles becomes a part of the family but he soon finds this world is not what he first believed. The Flyte's are ruled over by stern matriarch Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson).
At its heart the film is about the struggle between atheist Charles and the family's belief not so much in God, as a belief in a version of God that Lady Marchmain has created for her own ends and has made her children live in fear.
"Brideshead" is a difficult film to enjoy but you certainly feel a connection to these characters. The heart is much more evident in Julian Jarrold's film than it was in his previous effort, "Becoming Jane." If you're looking for fun give "Brideshead" a pass but for a serious minded film with compelling characters it's a good bet. It's worth seeing for Goode's performance alone. Ever since "Match Point" it's been evident that the man is going places. 7.5/10.

"Bottle Shock"- The magical moment in the Men's 4x100 Relay is hardly the first time the Americans have taken on the "superior" French. And won. In 1976 British wine critic and Parisian resident Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) set about to dispel the myth that only France could produce worthwhile wine. He found what he was looking for in Napa Valley, California.
Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) is a Californian with a dream and a firm belief that he can produce some of the finest wine in the world. It didn't seem believable to most at the time but Jim and his son Bo (Chris Pine, the new Captain Kirk) were out to prove the world wrong.
Directed by Randall Miller, "Bottle Shock" is an enjoyable little film telling the true story of the first time American wine was taken seriously. It's hardly perfection but it has a big heart and some great performances by Rickman, Pullman, Pine, and Freddy Rodriguez ("Planet Terror") who just keeps turning in terrific work. It's a good time and no, it's not anything like "Sideways." 7/10.

"Brideshead Revisited" and "Bottle Shock" are both currently playing in limited release.