They say that dreamers inherit the Earth. That their visionary spirits determine all of our futures and creates worlds for us that we didn’t know were possible. But the journey to that glorious tomorrow is often paved through tough yesterdays as dreamers have to make sacrifices and disappoint people along the way. For many minority groups or immigrants, this can be especially tough as circumstances dictate that the time and money spent making your own way may be better utilized in taking care of those close to you that need it. When faced with this decision, how do dreamers balance it all?
Uncorked tells the story of Elijah (Mamoudou Athie), a young Memphian often full of ideas but short on follow through. Elijah is currently torn between his dream of becoming a master sommelier and his father Louis’s (Courtney B. Vance) wish for him to take over the family barbecue business. With the support of his mother Sylvia and new girlfriend Tanya (Sasha Compère), Elijah will attempt to forge his own path without incurring the wrath of his father.
Before Uncorked’s story could even begin to fully unravel, what jumps out immediately about the film is its authentic feel. From the Memphis, Tennessee setting, to the look of its actors, to the music provided by rap superproducer Hit Boy, the sum of these parts combine to create the feel of a familiar world for those acquainted with the black experience. Uncorked’s characters seem like people you’d really encounter at a mom and pop restaurant right down to the way they speak. This genuine aesthetic is notable not just for how it speaks to the care that went into making the film or the diverse crew that produced it, but also for how it fits into our current culture which often calls out for entertainment options that reflect that diversity within the black community itself. Which is to say, you can’t run away from the fact that it features mostly dark skinned actors in a family drama. I’ve heard it said once that the toughest thing for a black person to be is average. In a country chock full of stereotypes about black people ranging from athleticism, to coolness, to sexual prowess, just being unremarkable can feel disappointing. However many black folks have been starved for relatable content where black characters aren’t super, hero or thug, and are depicted just living regular, mundane lives. Watching the family dynamic between Elijah, Sylvia, Louis, Brenda (Kelly Jenrette), and JT (Bernard David Jones) or the relationship between Elijah and Tanya evokes a certain familiarity that makes Uncorked connect a little more closely.
Thematically, Uncorked explores the question of what duty, if any, we have to legacy. Throughout the film, Elijah struggles with his forging his dream of becoming a master sommelier in the face of pressure from his father to carry on tradition and run the family barbecue restaurant. The conundrum is a familiar one that many in the audience will be able to relate to, satisfying one’s self or satisfying loved ones. In the black community especially, the responsibility we feel toward our elders, helping them when they need it and doing our best to avoid disappointing them, can often clash with pursuing our own path if the two are in conflict. Elijah’s path in the film depicts the nature of dreaming and how it often intersects with our real life responsibilities. Sure, we may stumble and veer off as we head toward our ultimate goal, but determined dreamers never really awaken and lose their dream.
Writer/director Prentice Penny crafted a fantastic world with dialogue that is not only funny, but as mentioned above, feels exceedingly real, reminding you of the own dynamics of your family and people around the way you grew up with. Along with director of photography Elliot Davis, Penny includes very good camera shots and cinematography throughout, including dynamic tracking shots and a stellar match cut taking us from a painting in a museum to a bridge in Paris. Uncorked is an exceedingly well made film with a story that remains engaging despite dragging slightly in the third act. The cast displays excellent chemistry with the great Courtney B. Vance and Niecy Nash leading the way as the parents of the main character and Mamoudou Athie pulling his weight as lead. The chemistry between he and Niecy Nash in particular really fuel the believability of the mother-son relationship depicted onscreen. Similarly, Athie and Sasha Compère make for a quality couple and allow the romance aspect of the film to integrate into the greater narrative perfectly. All in all, Uncorked is a strong debut for its writer/director and feels like a breath of fresh air in the cinematic landscape.
Image: Netflix
