In these times I think we need some good, non-virus, non Tiger King conversations :). This movie may just give you what you need and let’s all be honest here wine is at the forefront of our evening entertainment. So take a moment, settle into your sofa and prepare yourself for an evening of watching a lovely family movie that’s all about life, food and wine.
Released last week on Netlfix, Uncorked is a movie about love… love of family, love of food and love of wine. From writer Prentice Penny, Uncorked takes you on Elijah’s (Mamoudou Athie) journey of passion with wanting to be a Master Sommelier (one of the hardest exams in the world) and the challenges he faces with being torn between his own desire and those of his father, Louis (Courtney B. Vance) for him to take over the family’s Memphis barbeque restaurant.
The movie revolves around the relationship of father and son who have genuinely emotional scenes where you feel for both of them wanting something neither one is wholly willing to give but feel compelled to try and compromise, especially Elijah. Elijah is self-doubting in his ability to move forward with the Master Sommelier exam and distracts himself with working at the family restaurant until he can no longer deny his need to learn more about the world of wine. Elijah’s mother, Sylvia played by (Niecy Nash) exudes strength in supporting her son to push himself towards this scary journey while dealing with her own health struggles. Cue some tears later in the movie.
While ultimately, this is a serious movie with a rich script, it does have some elements of lightness and humor. In one scene, Elijah’s explains wine to a potential love interest in a way she can understand by asking her if she likes hip-hop. When she says yes, he goes on to compare Chardonnay to Jay-Z (the granddaddy of wine), Pinot Grigio to Kanye West and Riesling to Drake and when you think about, it is the perfect hip-hop analogy.
I personally loved every minute of this brilliantly acted, heartfelt, sometimes teary, sometimes funny movie and highly recommend you curl up on your sofa with your favorite wine and enjoy.
