Blood Into Wine

Open Culture had a post this morning linking to all the Criterion films that are available on Netflix Instant.  They also maintain a list of over 300 movies that are available for free online.  I thought you guys might be interested in it.  I know that I'll be consulting the Criterion Netflix Instant list a lot over the next few weeks.  By the way, Open Culture is a great blog.  I've found a lot of very cool things from there.  You might want to consider tossing it in your RSS readers.  

Last night I decided to watch another documentary.  However, after watching Prodigal Sons I knew that I wanted something lighter and more "fun."  While checking out my Netflix Instant queue I noticed that Blood Into Wine was available.  It is a documentary about Maynard James Keenan (lead singer of Tool, A Perfect Circle, Pucifier) and his winery in AZ.

Blood Into Wine (2010)

I've been a big fan of both him and his bands since high school.  When Tool's last album came out it just happened to be right before my last semester at BU ended and I wrote the entirety of my Philosophy Capstone paper to it.  I don't credit my "A" totally to the music, but I do know that it inspired some interesting trains of thought.  

However, I had waited so long to watch this doc for a few reasons.  First, I don't drink.  Second, I am usually skeptical when celebrities start something like this.  But I should have known that MJK would pursue his wine making with the same intensity that he makes his art.  In fact, there is definitely a line through the doc about finding a passion and following it.  

The movie begins with MJK doing a mock interview promoting the documentary.  It is full of the awkward, uncomfortable and slightly annoying humor that MJK employs during most interviews.  But as the movie gets rolling you really start to see MJK in a more honest fashion.  Throughout his career he has always held something back, never told the whole story.  Most of his interviews are laced with contempt or sarcasm.  But in Blood Into Wine the real Maynard comes out and his passion for his vineyards and AZ is clear.  

His partner (mentor) in this endeavour is knowledgeable and down to earth.  He loves working the land and creating wine.  I really liked that the documentary focused on him just as much as it did on Maynard.  There is also a definite love letter to AZ and some of the crazy people that live there in the doc as well.  

Overall, if you are a fan of MJK or wine, you'll probably enjoy this movie.  

This is more the guy we see in this documentary.