Uncorked’ is a beautiful expression of an authentic black story that emphasizes depictions of love, family, and pursuit towards a goal.”

The Coronavirus has completely altered life as we know it. Schools are closed, the NBA canceled their entire season, and the entertainment industry has had to readjust the way content is distributed. One feature that had to revamp its rollout was the American drama film written and produced by ‘Insecure’ showrunner, Prentice Penny entitled ‘Uncorked’. It was scheduled to have its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 14, 2020. However, after the tech and film festival was canceled due to the 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, ‘Uncorked’ was released on March 27, 2020, by Netflix.

This morning while scrolling Instagram, it was Terrence J who posted about the movie reminding me of its release. After seeing Terrence’s post, I instantly went to Netflix to stream the film and support. With the film being rolled out today, I expected to see ‘Uncorked’ featured on the Netflix home page, eradicating any temptation to click any other show or film. To my surprise after running through the home page, I was unable to find the movie. I used the search bar and typed in, “u” still nothing, “u-n,” again nothing, it wasn’t until I typed, “u-n-c” that I was able to find the film that I was looking for. Not to point the finger, but an indie film like this should have been more visible on the Netflix homepage to ensure higher viewership. 

After transcending the difficulty of finding the film, with a cup of tea in hand, I was finally ready to start ‘Uncorked’. Within five minutes of the film, I was blown away with exquisite cinematography. The stellar shooting was done by Elliot Davis, who was the director of photography for Nate Parker’s controversial directorial debut ‘The Birth of a Nation’, another beautifully shot film. By the end of the film, I was impressed and compelled to tell my friends to stream this heart-warming film. 

Plot 

‘Uncorked’ follows Elijah, (Mamoudou Athie), a mid-twenties gentleman who struggles to find the balance between working at an upscale wine business and his father’s local barbecue restaurant. Quickly into the first act, we learn that Louis, (Courtney B Vance), Elijah’s father, wants Elijah to take over the family establishment. Unfortunately, Elijah doesn’t show much interest in following this path. Louis is disgruntled by his son’s lack of desire to run the family business because it’s been a part of the family’s history for years. Later in the film at a family dinner, Elijah informs his family that he desires to become a sommelier, and his father disapproves. The entire movie follows Elijah as he takes everything he has to try and accomplish his dreams of becoming a sommelier. Will he make it? Will his father get on board with his plan? What will becoming a sommelier cost the protagonist? These questions are what make up the central plot of the film. 

Clever Writing 

Prentice Penny did an incredible job of introducing the inciting incident into the film right at the ten-minute mark, exemplifying standard screenwriting rules. The writing and direction of the film also did a great job of establishing the world of the film, good-ole Memphis, Tennessee. The most distinctive trait about ‘Uncorked’ was the attention to detail regarding the jargon about wine. It was clear that Penny’s script was well-researched and will teach viewers a lot about different wines. Some improvements could have been made in regards to flushing out subplots and characters. For example, more depth could have been added to the rivalry between Elijah and ‘Harvard,’ that tension could have evolved into something special. Another caveat to the film was the ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but the film should have had a more victorious and definitive ending, giving a richer experience to viewers. 

Beautiful Black Cast

The beautiful black family blends well together. Earlier on, you can’t help but fall in love with Slyvia, (Nicey Nash), and how she brings authenticity to the film that feels like home. Mamoudou Athie does an incredible job of carrying the film and articulating his emotions flawlessly through the screen. Twenty-three minutes in, I found myself talking back to the screen as Elijah was taking his wine school entrance exam, telling him not to be nervous. I also appreciated the beautiful brown skin of each main character. Sasha Compère was so beautiful, and the love story between Tanya and Elijah was endearing. 

Conclusion 

With good black films, I always believed you could only fit into two categories: high-brow and critically acclaimed like ‘Moonlight’ or ‘Get Out’ and low-budget, culturally appreciated films such as ‘Drumline’ or ‘Stomp the Yard’. ‘Uncorked’ doesn’t fit into either of those dichotomies. ‘Uncorked’ is a beautiful expression of an authentic black story that emphasizes depictions of love, family, and pursuit towards a goal. A heartwarming watch during this quarantine crisis, guaranteed to provide an enjoyable viewing experience. 

Production company: Mandalay Pictures, A Penny for Your Thoughts 

Distributor: Netflix

Cast: Mamoudou Athie, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash, Sasha Compere, Matt McGorry, Gil Ozeri, Kelly Jenrette, Bernard David Jones, Meera Rohit Kumbhani

Director-Screenwriter: Prentice Penny

Producers: Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens, Jason Michael Berman, Prentice Penny, Chris Pollack, Ben Renzo, Datari Turner

Director of photography: Elliot Davis

Production designer: Kendall Bennett

Editor: Sandra Montiel

Casting directors: Christopher Gray, Jeffrey Karantza

‘Uncorked’ has a runtime of 104 minutes and is rated TV-MA. The film is available for streaming on Netflix.