Movies and wine: An exercise in absurdity

So in my blogger profile I listed my favorite movies and I thought it would a fun, possibly senseless, and ultimately absurdist exercise to pair wines with some of these movies. I was a film major at good old Boston University and thought I would finally put my degree to work. Didn't really do anything with my degree except make me an elitist film snob and let me make arcane references in casual conversation. Now I can make clever film references in my blog.


1) The Shining - The film is beautifuly shot, incredibly terrifying and has unforgettable performances by Jack and Shelley. I also notice something new and different in it every time I see it again . . .which is bordering on 100+ times. It also brilliantly shows one man's insane fall into madness better than almost any movie I have ever seen. So wine-wise this would be tough. An evil wine would be appropriate. It would have to be 2005 Hans Wirsching Julius Echter Berg Grosses Gewachs. This is serious dark, evil stuff that is morphing constantly and honestly would make me mad trying to figure this stuff out but again is so beautiful and pure. Probably does not sense to anybody except me.


2) The Game - Never know what's gonna happen in this movie. Always surprises you and there are some large themes at work here. Burgundy.....which one? Complex film so a complex wine would have to do it . . .It is David Fincher too who does make very elegant looking films. His cinematography is very underrated. 1996 d'Angerville Volnay "Clos des Ducs." It's a '96 Red Burgundy. Who knows how it's going to taste but you wanna revisit it again and again. Wonderful complexity here and you know there are greater things and themes going on here. Maybe time will show them all.


3) Hostel - Yes I am a sick freak and love new-wave-cult ultra gore-slasher films that are completely over the top. So the answer is pretty obvious. California Cult wine babeeeeee! My favorite is 1992 Dalla Valle Maya. Also the only one I can stomach. Although that eye scene in Hostel almost made me ralph when I saw it. So 1999 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon if I need a vomit-inducing wine.


4) The Silence - I love Bergman and this is a great film and ties all up of Bergman's themes. Does god exist? If so why is life painful? Why does he not act when things are tough? Why is he silent? All that good stuff. Beautifully shot in this cryptic hotel. Lots of great blocking and mise en scene. It is severely underrated Bergman. Totally has a great feel. So what wine with this? This film has a dreary depressing feel to it. You need a complementary wine here I believe. Gotta go German again. The cinematography is so tight yet empty and angular. Trocken Silvaner. For stark empty, depressing Silvaner you gotta go to Franconia again. 2005 Hans Wirsching Silvaner Iphofer Julius-Echter-Berg Spatlese Trocken "S" should do the trick.