Mondovino is about the globalization of wine, but as the title of the film implies, it’s also about much, much more. This ambitious documentary by American filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter clocks in at over two hours, and he does indeed spend a good amount of time exploring the different viewpoints of small wineries versus big commercial wine companies, but he also uses wine as a vehicle to talk about politics, family, religion, history and culture.

Nossiter expertly weaves multiple locations (Italy, France, Chile, Argentina and America), multiple families and multiple storylines. At times, his anti-globalization bias shows through. His “characters” are cast in black and white—the highly influential American wine critic Robert Parker and his friend Michel Rolland, the most successful wine consultant in the world, are frequently shown in drab white offices or inside automobiles, while the salt-of-the-earth small vintners are shown in grape fields and in wine cellars. But I didn’t mind. The film was, for me, an intriguing journey into the richly textured world of wine and the competing interests involved in it.

There are only two extra features on the DVD, but they add a fullness to the movie that more than makes up for the usual array of deleted scenes, alternate endings and outtakes that are not here. The film is drawn from a 10-part miniseries and here,  Nossiter includes Episode 6, which runs 50 minutes and examines the idea of taste and the wine-making process from multiple viewpoints. Some choice scenes from this bonus footage that didn’t make it into the feature film include interviews with the folks at Wine Spectator magazine and a discussion about a lawsuit brought against Parker by a winemaker. Parker’s crass American attitude really shines through in the interview segments here. The second feature is a Director’s Commentary track, where Nossiter adds a ton of information about the movie, including production details, trivia, background on some of the main characters and reaction to the finished film by several of the people in the movie.

Also in August:
The Complete Thin Man Collection, Warner Home Video (Aug. 2): William Powell and Myrna Loy bring Dashiell Hammet’s Nick and Nora Charles to life. This husband and wife team of the 1930s solves crimes while cracking wise and tossing back martinis. 

CSI – Season One, re-released on Paramount Home Video (Aug. 9): Crime Scene Investigation has spawned a few offshoots but none as good as the original. CSI succeeds because it sticks to a simple formula of intriguing storylines and a cast of likeable characters. 

Shrek 2 (Widescreen Edition), Dreamworks (Aug. 23): Shrek and Fiona travel to the Kingdom of Far, Far Away to meet her parents and run into the Fairy Godmother who has nefarious plans for the pair. This fun sequel succeeds in being better than the first, providing entertainment for both children and adults.

House, M.D. – Season One, Universal Studios Home Video (Aug. 30) – John House is a recovering drug addict and divorcee who carries a cane and a huge chip on his shoulder. Where “E.R.” worked as an ensemble cast, “House, M.D.” works best when exploring the conflicted lead character.