UNCORKED : Thursday 21st May 2020.

In these very trying and testing times for us all that has seen many cinema's, Odeon's, and movie theatres around the world close their doors for the foreseeable future because of the escalating threat of the COVID-19 Coronavirus taking an ever increasing hold on the world at large, many film and television productions halted in their tracks indefinitely, and new film releases pushed back to some future date when some sense of movie going normalcy is expected to resume, I have, needless to say, had to adapt to this new world order. And so with my usual Reviews of the latest cinematic releases being curtailed, instead I will post my Review of the latest release movies showing on Netflix until such time as the regular outing to my local multiplex or independent theatre can be reinstated.

In the last few weeks then, a number of new feature films have landed at Netflix - of which I review as below 'Uncorked' which went live on the streaming service on 27th March and which I saw from the comfort of my own home on Thursday 21st May.

'UNCORKED' is an American drama film Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Prentice Penny in his feature film directorial debut. Due to have its World Premier screening at South by Southwest in mid-March, but cancelled due to the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, this original Netflix film was released on the streaming service at the back end of March. The film has garnered largely positive Reviews.

The film opens up in a bottle shop in Memphis where works Elijah (Mamoudou Athie) who is painstakingly placing bottles of wine on the display shelves, attending to customers enquiries, taking sales and engrossing himself in a world he clearly loves. In walks two young girls looking to make a purchase but are completely clueless about wine. Elijah strikes up a conversation with one of the young women, Tanya (Sasha Compere) and begins to tell her the difference between Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Riesling. She walks out with a bottle of Riesling under her arm, and a few days later comes back and is persuaded to join the shops Wine Club for which she must hand over her all important phone number, e-mail address and home address. The pair have clearly hit it off and soon thereafter begin dating.

Elijah also works at his fathers barbecue restaurant alongside his father Louis (Courtney B. Vance) and his mother Sylvia (Niecy Nash). He works there somewhat reluctantly although Louis has his heart set on Elijah taking over the reins of the restaurant when he needs to retire, just as his father passed on the restaurant to him. It's a successful thriving business where patrons line the street outside waiting to get in, but despite this Elijah isn't interested but has not yet plucked up the courage to tell his dad outright.

One day while on a date, Elijah recounts to Tanya what first sparked his interest in wine, about five years ago and ever since then he has been hooked, reading up about the many different wines of the world, wine growing regions, grape varietals, specific vineyards and absorbing as much knowledge as he can about the subject. He goes on to tell her that he aspires to become a Master Sommelier, of which there are only 230 worldwide, but is fearful of the cost, the time and the dedication needed to learn his craft to be able to take the year long course and pass what is probably the hardest exam in the world. Tanya tells him to follow his dream. And so he takes the entrance exam, and passes earning him entry into a local Sommelier School. He announces his entry to the school over a family dinner, and after some hilarity because the family was unaware what a Sommelier is or does, everyone is congratulatory especially Sylvia and except for Louis who derides his son.

After a number of initial lessons, Elijah is approached by Harvard (Matt McGory) to join his study group. Hesitant at first, he sees the draw card of being in a study group and joins together with Richie (Gil Ozeri) and Leann (Meera Rohit Kumbhani). After a few months the study group of four is offered and exchange programme with their sister school in Paris, France. Elijah worries about the US$10K minimum cost of travel, accommodation and associated costs and says that he's unable to attend, and his parents couldn't afford to contribute either. So he sits on the sidelines until Harvard makes him an offer to help split their costs 50/50. Elijah advises his parents of the scheduled trip and Sylvia agrees to start a fund raiser to enable him to attend. At his leaving party Elijah is presented with US$3.5K in cash, plus the proceeds from the sale of his car, means that he can go secure in the knowledge that he has sufficient funds to cover his expenses.

Things go well in Paris for the study group mates, until Harvard announces that he has to leave because his father has set him up with a job back home. Harvard is none to pleased with this prospect but has little say in the matter and it also means that he is now backing out of his 50/50 arrangement with Elijah. While in Paris Elijah remains in periodical contact with his mother but his father for the most part remains distant, having alienated himself ever since his son announced he was not interested in taking on the family restaurant in the longer term. Elijah meanwhile has got himself a job in a kebab shop to try and earn a crust to support himself through the remainder of the exchange period.

In Paris, Elijah learns that his mothers cancer has returned and that she is now hospitalised. He speaks to his mother who is undergoing chemotherapy and is largely confined to bed, and tells him to remain in Paris and continue with his studies. She also wires him US$1.5K to help further fund his tuition and living expenses. Louis finds out about the money sent and chastises his wife. A short time later Sylvia dies.

Elijah returns home to attend the funeral. Recognising that his father is now struggling to run the restaurant, plus open a new more upmarket barbecue restaurant in a more well to do suburb, he increasingly supports his father so neglecting his Sommelier classes. Elijah is forced to withdraw from the programme.

Seeing his renewed commitment to him and the family business Louis relents and begins supporting Elijah with his studies, as does Tanya and the owner/manager of the bottle shop where he works, which in turn leads Elijah to sitting for the Master Sommelier exam. He takes the exam which involves a theory test, a service test and a blind tasting of three red wines and three whites which need to be identified in 25 minutes.

Ultimately Elijah failed the exam having missed out on the blind tasting with some elements of service and theory lacking as well. Elijah returns to his two jobs in the bottle shop and the family's now two restaurants, and some time later is seen in the classroom sampling and identifying a wine having enrolled once again in the Sommelier course.

Amongst the films centred around the wine industry 'Uncorked' is not going down in the history books as a great vintage, but having said that it is a charming medium bodied film that has been well researched, finely crafted and evenly balanced by Writer and Director Penny. The two central themes around which the film revolves - the Memphis barbecue restaurant(s) and the Sommelier programme are delivered in a completely convincing and believable manner and the performances by Athie, Vance and Nash are first rate as the latter two respond to the formers desire to pursue his dream from opposite sides of the same coin. The references to various wines and the worlds regions from which they originate are educational in themselves, and the unfolding dynamic between the often divided parents and their son adds further authenticity to the storyline. There are no car chases, guns, knives, explosions, fist fights, sex, drugs, thumping soundtrack or cussing in this film - instead we have a simple story, well told and deftly handled about a young man chasing his career goal through legitimate means - hard work, study and recognising the importance of family.

'Uncorked' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapboard, out of a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-