Well, the brew session didn’t happen due to a combination of weather and kids who were not crazy about the idea of bed time. Soon, soon, but strike one.
I did crack open a strangely advanced bottle of 2002 Nicholas Potel Beaune 1er Cru Greves on Saturday night while (finally) watching Mondovino. This bottle paled in comparison to one opened at a tasting a few weeks ago, but the cork showed some signs of seepage. There were some nice Beauney clay notes, but the fruit was definitely hiding, though the structure was not. Strike two.
The film, well, was about as bad as I expected based on comments from friends. When a documentary that is supposed to be on the side you support manages to bring only eye-rolling and head-shaking, it’s not good. Add in the nausea-inducing camera work (thank God I didn’t see this in the theater), and this was not much more than a tick in the “yes, I’ve seen it” column. And, with that the weekend is out, looking.
Next weekend should be a blast as a group of beer friends (though an ever-shrinking one . . .) descend upon the twin cities of Champaign/Urbana for the Michigan/Illinois football game, lots of beer, and more delightful food than we should (but will) eat. We get an over-night this year, thanks to a 7 p.m. kick-off, so the opportunities for beer bar-hopping and beer shopping are enhanced. If anyone out there needs a ticket, please let me know!
So why all the head-shaking and eye-rolling? Was Mondovino a lot of pandering? or lame? or something else?
Also, did you see Sideways? Of course you did.
One more question: are you cheering for Illinois or Michigan? Not that I care…
I recommend reading Sideways rather than seeing it. Yet another case of book (albeit with one thoroughly weird story line that I’m glad was dropped) exceeding movie. It’s a very quick read.
Mondovino felt very contrived. Perhaps it wouldn’t have if I hadn’t known where Nossiter was going with it, but the people he selected to interview, and the questions he chose to ask (or at least include in the film) did not probe to any depth. Some of that was intentional – what better way to prove the “modernists” are vapid than to ask them questions that lead to slick, glossy answers because they’ve been asked 10,000 times before, and what better way to make the “traditionalists” look profound than to let them philosophize without interruption on topics they’ve done the same on thousands of times? Basically, he sold the story short, and didn’t dig to any depth, which is too bad because there is some geeky meat still to be gnawed from the traditional v. modern bone.
Oh, I’m Michigan Economics, class of ’92.
Actually, I saw Sideways during opening weekend, while I was living in Chicago. It’s one of my favorite movies. About every third or fourth time I go to the library, I remember to look it up. It’s usually either checked out or I can’t find it on the shelf, a trend that’s been happening for a good two years.
Still, given your review of Mondovino, I’d like to see it. Sounds like a good way to relax on a Friday night… with a glass of beer.
Econ? How’d you get to law from economics?