Alphabetical Movie Marathon B4

Bottle Shock - The newest addition to my catalog. A must view for anyone who loves wine or is planning on going to the Napa/Sonoma region. Which I just did, as a matter of fact. This is a great film about how California was put on the international wine map. As we discovered when we visited Chateau Montelena, the the first CA winery that won a blind tasting against the French in 1976, the plot is total B.S. but somehow that's OK. I can forgive the artistic license taken in this film because of the sheer grass-roots, Americanism of the story. Not that I don't love France, but the US wins and California looks stunning and you just can't beat that. The only bad point is the obligatory token woman thrown in for romance. Rather unnecessary there but also forgivven for the focus on the mexican immigrant's important role in the history and development of the 4th largest wine region in the world. Great 70's music, great wine, great cinematography, only self-aware condescension, America on top.

The Bourne Identity - Matt Damon as an action hero? Who knew after Good Will Hunting, but boy does it work. It's got an amazingly intelligent and realistic plot (except for one short action scene involving falling three stories down the center of a staircase while shooting the enemy). This is the thinking woman's action film with a sexy star and a female character with realistic reactions to what is happening around her but is not a wilting flower. I heart Franka Potente. Really makes me want to pick up a copy of Run, Lola, Run. Not that I can afford it.