MovieChat Forums > Bottle Shock (2008) Discussion > Gustavo? - Relationship and Wine (spoile...

Gustavo? - Relationship and Wine (spoilers)


I thought this was a good movie. Love Alan Rickman, thought the story was very interesting. However I feel that if they took out Gustavo, the end of the movie would be more rewarding.

Gustavo was the BIGGER underdog in the story. He was the poor "mexican" who was struggling to fufil his birth right and become a vinter. His wine was great, yet you hear nothing about how it scored in the contest. (Personally, I thought Gustavo's wine was going to win and should win. I felt this is what the movie was driving torwards. But of course this story is based off of history.) Gustavo unvails all his bottled up feelings to Bill about his life long dream, who in return fires him. Then the next time you see them together, Bill suddenly has a change of heart and rehires him??? Gustavo goes back to the same crappy job as a field hand, without prospect of getting closer to his dream?? What!?

Then there is the relationship between Sam and Gustavo. They were better together IMO because Bo is a player and just wants as much tail as he can get.) But all of a sudden Sam decides she wants Bo and starts kissing him before he goes to Paris. I thought they were going to address this by having Gustavo see them or somthing- but it's never adressed in the movie. It would've been better if Gustavo was completely out of the picture and Sam just realizes Bo's not a loser and falls for him in the end. Instead, the audience is left wondering "what about Gustavo?"

All in all, Gustavo's story was great for the movie. But Gustavo didn't "win" in any aspect in the end. So it just left the audience feeling unsatisfied and let down. I feel it would've been better if they just left his personal story out of it completely.


Latest film:
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus 7/10
Couple's Retreat 4/10
The Fantastic Mr. Fox 8/10
The Book of Eli 4/10
Bottle Shock: 6/10

reply

...because it IS based in Reality they "somewhat " tried to keep it real..

Gustavo didn't even start making his own wine for 3 years after the year this film occurred...he studied Under Mike Grgich(the real maker of Montelena's wines)and actually didn't even work at the winery until after the Paris Tasting...

reply

So that makes his inclusion in the film even more confusing. All he did was make the intern look like a slut who would sleep with any vintner. Like some vintner groupie. I didn't understand the point of Gustavo's story at all, especially if it wasn't represented accurately.

reply

Agree. This is the only problem I had with this movie.

The relationship between Sam & Gustavo was pointless since she ended up with Bo.

Regardless of if this was based on actual history or not it didn't make any sense in this film. Gustavo and Bo's father were the only real wine makers in the movie.

reply

I agree! I thought the chemistry between Gustavo and Sam had such pull and seemed like a genuine love scene rather than a quickie..I just was in shock when they completely jumped to the other guy!

I liked the film but hated this bit of it. :(

reply

I was watching a world war 2 movie last night. It was great and all but they could have made Hitler a nice guy. The other week I watched a story about Muhammad Ali. That guy was so cocky! It would have been better if he lost more matches to humble him.

reply

^I totally agree. C0Ck Sucker.

It's a *beep* movie, sure it's based off of history. But 55% of it they pulled out of their god damn asses. They could have made the movie anyway they wanted. But they *beep* it up. Everyone else agrees, but you got to be the *beep* troll.

reply

I agree with you MissGelly! That is exactly how I felt about it, I loved/enjoyed it but the whole Sam ending up with Bo bit was very forced and didn't seem natural. While Gustavo and Sam had great chemistry and was very genuine to me. I thought they'd end up together!

reply

Yeah, I agree. I came here to post exactly that. I mean, we get that blurb at the end that he owns his own winery, but that means nothing for the narrative. There was a serious dramatic imbalance concerning Gustavo.

Lets wash it. With Rocks!

reply

Agree. Glad someone else(s) pointed this out.


When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

reply