All too often, tragedy leads to substance abuse in an attempt to dull the pain. If you can't relate, you probably know somebody who can.
Love Liza (2002) tells of just such a circumstance when Wilson Joel (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is crushed by his wife's suicide. Wilson's mother-in-law, Mary Ann (Kathy Bates) is somewhat supportive but she's on her own grief ride, and the two inevitably clash.
Wilson is not a well man. He visits his wife's car, still in the garage, the cloth still stuck in the exhaust pipe. He sleeps in the hallway next to the bedroom and finds Liza's suicide note while grabbing for his pillow. The presence of the note and Wilson's anguished journey with the envelope he can't bring himself to open evokes extreme pathos and empathy throughout the film.
Non-functioning and increasingly anti-social, he develops a morbid curiosity with gasoline. Unable to maintain his job, Wilson finds some recreation and comfort in the company of a quirky remote-control model enthusiast, Denny (Jack Kehler), who adds some much-needed levity to the film. Wilson's penchant for remote-control planes only provides him with an alternative fuel to inhale.
The Oscar-winning Hoffman is one of my favorite living actors. He perfectly portrays the lovable, vulnerable, slovenly, broken man. He's so versatile and his sensitivity to the character is overwhelming. Bates, meanwhile, is great and the dynamic between their two characters is gripping.
Love Liza was anything but a hit at the box office, unfortunately, but that seems often to be the case with the deep, dark, depressing films despite the brilliant acting. This film gets my vote and I paired it with the equally dark Simi Landslide Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($44.95 CDN, $34.99 USD).
Simi Winery has a long and rich tradition of making exceptional wines. The winery was originally founded in 1890 by Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Pietro Simi. It is a landmark winery of Sonoma County, having raised the profile of the region in the 1960s. Sonoma County is located on the north coast of California, and Simi has the majority of its vineyards in Sonoma's esteemed Alexander Valley.
In 2003, internationally acclaimed winemaker Steve Reeder joined Simi, continuing Simi's trademark of combining time-honoured winemaking traditions with state-of-the-art technical innovations. One sip of the Simi Landslide Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 bears testimony to Reeder's craftsmanship.
Simi's 170-acre Landslide Vineyard was first planted in 1985 and is located to the south of the Alexander Valley. The vineyard enjoys a rich and varied soil, resulting from an actual landslide due to an ancient volcanic eruption from nearby Mt. St. Helena.
The color of this rich, beautiful wine is deep ruby and looks so inviting the mind practically quivers with anticipation. The nose is super-packed with black cherry, to be expected with a big Cabernet Sauvignon. Look for notes of cedar and traces of vanilla due to the 25 months of aging in mostly new French oak.
The palate is intense and multi-layered with cherries and spice and everything nice. The tannic structure is strong and leads to a gorgeous finish. Enjoy a varietal combination of 86 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Merlot, 4 percent Cabernet Franc, 1 percent Petit Verdot and 1 percent Malbec. This wine is begging to be drunk now but, if you're patient, you can cellar this gem comfortably for five years.
Jill Vanderkooy, Sommelier and certifiable bon vivant, has worked in the wine industry for over 10 years, has been drinking wine for 25 years and is a true devotee of film across all genres. Her liver thanks you for reading.
