Today we’re joined by Nicholas Langdon, a Melbourne-based Letterboxd friend I met as part of the Collab Film Club where we vote on a new movie to watch every single week! Hint: anyone can join, and this weekend I’ll be introducing a new poll to vote on a work of Portuguese cinema, in honor of my upcoming first trip to Portgual! Just leave a comment here and you’re instantly a member! Then vote, watch, review, and love life.
Nick chose to talk about…
…the world’s only Tangerine Dream-soundtracked, Romantic Cold War Disaster movie!
Starring Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham - who, wildly, got married over 30 years later in 2021! The script was widely considered one of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood in the early 80’s, well before The Black List existed to celebrate such things. While beautifully written, the story was a challenging combo of Cold War disaster pic and When Harry Met Sally urban romance. Writer/Director Steve DeJarnatt also refused to let the film be directed by anyone else, or to change the ending, which was considered controversial.
So then how did this get made? Listen to the episode to find out!
Sadly a box office flopper at the time, it has since gone on to achieve cult status and we all agreed this movie was one of a kind and well worth the watch!
The Wine Pairings
NOTE: While the write ups below give you brief conclusions for our pairings, the podcast episode will walk you through how we arrived at the decision in much more detail, Act by Act of the movie.
Dallas’ Pairing
Riunite Lambrusco
I decided to go with something that was easy going with a solid core but also a little agitation. And like we said, this movie begins with an AWW then jackknives right into WTF.
It also kind of sums up my relationship with Lambrusco as of late. Because as those of you who have been around for the last few months know that we have recently developed an appreciation for Riunite which is often dismissed by many wine-folk because of its accessibility. But if you want to unite a sappy romantic comedy and a post-apocalyptic, pre-apocalyptic drama, you just kind of glue them together and give equal parts sweet and electric, which is kind of what Riunite gives. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the characters in this film would have enjoyed a glass or ten of Riunite on their ill-fated date. For context, Riunite was THE best selling imported wine from 1976 to the year 2000.
It sits at about 8 or 9% ABV. And is both accessible and satisfying, like this film. And both were things I did not think I was going to enjoy. I credit this all, including every plot point in this film and my new appreciation for Riunite to Tasha Yarr(I’m working on a Tasha Yarr Manifesto as we speak, so stay tuned). And go get a Lambrusco to watch with this film because it’s a blend of WTF and AWW.
Dave’s Pairing
Bulles de Miniere Sparkling Cabernet Franc, Loire
This is a 100 % Cabernet Franc from the Loire done in the “pet net” or petulant natural, which is a lightly fizzy style, though they put a proper champagne cork in this one and not just a little crown cap. So it was actually pretty sparkling.
A big red sparkler that’s fruity, eccentric, tart, slightly smoky, earthy, gently bitter. It’s complex. Dallas went with a light, sweet, refreshing sparkling red, but I say go for the bolder, dry, layered monstrosity, something that’s going to challenge you. I think I had to go for the challenge of something heavier, weightier, more interesting.
Fun fact, I also paired the same exact bottle on our substack in our subscriber chat with Catherine O’Hara, who passed away this weekend, sadly. And I paired it with her entire style of her sense of humor, her style of comedy, because she is also, frankly, eccentric, fruity, tart, slightly smoky, earthy and gently bitter in everything that I’ve seen in her delivery. This also goes to show that a single wine makes more than one great pairing for different reasons, but also for the same reasons.
Nick’s Pairing
Merth Vineyards 2024 Sangiovese (RIP)
Nick focused on the connection to the core story of the film. And after consulting his local Wine Shop, Park Hill Cellars, they settled on a wine with as much sadness and disaster in its story as the film had.
Merth Vineyards - a fairly new label out of the Macedon Region of Australia - spent 7 years preparing to release their first commercial vintages. But unfortunately, just a few months after launch, over 2/3rds of their bottled wines were destroyed in the Heathcote Fire in Melbourne. This Sangiovese mirrors the sweeter romantic notes of the film with hints of red cherry while also containing spice and earth to match the weighter themes and dark comedy. And like the film, the tale of this wine is also tinged with a bit of bitterness and destruction. It’s a wine that’s a part of its own great story.
Made in a light, early release “nouveau” style, it’s all about crunchy red fruit, floral lift and gentle spice, with a refreshing line of acidity that keeps it energetic and reinvigorating, even in the wake of hardship.
