Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2010

The Vintner’s Luck: ©2009 Ascension Film Kortex Acajou Films

New Zealand’s Niki Caro, who delighted the world with the moving Whale Rider, has clearly made a misstep with this overly ambitious and clumsy adaptation of a fantasy drama by Elizabeth Knox. A young French peasant aspires to make great wines but is frustrated at having to work for a mediocre chateau. Then a homoerotic angel appears to offer winemaking advice, and the lad achieves greatness. But not all angels come from heaven. There’s little that works in this plodding, pretentious bore. Vera Farmiga stands out as the Baroness, but she’s working in a void. In heavily French-accented English.