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SUNDAY DINNER AND A MOVIE “Tender Mercies” 1983 Some actor’s disappear into their role. Daniel Day Lewis, for example. With 85 Robert Duvall, the role disappears into him. The character comes through his eyes and very much his soul. From the abusive father in The Great order today, pick-up Santini to the repressed chaplain in the movie M.A.S.H; the napalm loving May 2nd general in Apocalypse Now versus Laura Dern’s gentle father in Rambling Rose; The Godfather or Lonesome Dove. It’s Duvall you see, but the Easton, Zinfandel Amador County 2017 characters are so vastly different. There could be no better pairing to this menu than this Zinfandel. The Easton Zin was made in an endeavor to see just how energetic the varietal It’s hard to believe, while nominated for seven Academy Awards, Duvall could be without all the heavy-handed treatment it too often receives. The won only once…for Tender Mercies. He portrays Mac Sledge, a country wine is all fresh juicy berries underpinned by brambles and a network of and western star has-been and an alcoholic, waking up on a motel room fine tannins. Delicious on its own, even better with a slight chill while you floor six miles outside of Waxahachie, Texas and twenty years from grill. stardom. Broke, he asks to work off his debt to Rosa Lee, who runs the place, a young single mother played by Tess Harper (Crimes of the Heart, Chef Allison’s Famous Green Chile “Crack” Dip No Country for Old Men). Her husband was killed in Vietnam. house made russet potato chips “He was only a boy,” she says. “But I think he would have grown up to be a good man.” Kohlrabi and Cabbage Slaw celery seed vinaigrette The two don’t speak a lot, and Mac never mentions his former life as a c/w singer. One day, some boys in a local band recognize Mac and word gets Cowboy Beans around. “Hey, mister, were you really Mac Sledge?” a woman asks. “Yes, pinto beans, borracho style ma’m,” he says kindly, “I guess I was.” We’re treated to country music from Broadway star Betty Buckley (“Cats”). She plays a country singer and Jalapeño Corn Bread Duvall’s ex-wife, Dixie, and sings the Academy Award nominated “Over whipped honey butter You” more Branson than Broadway. Duvall also performs a couple of country songs in the film, including some he wrote. That takes cojones. Finish at Home Smoked Organic ½ Chicken house made BBQ sauce The script is by Horton Foote, who wrote the screenplay of To Kill a Mockingbird. (In which Robert Duvall played Boo Radley!) It’s directed by Grill at Home Sausage Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy). This is a quiet film that addresses andouille sausage link powerful themes. It doesn’t quite go the way you’d expect. “I don’t trust happiness,” Mac says to Rosa Lee, “I never did; I never will.” Tender Bake at Home Crisp Mercies holds your heart like a lover holds your face to tell you a secret. blackberries, oat and pecan crumble, crème anglaise ~ ~ ~ ~ Movie available to stream on a variety of platforms Synopsis provided by James Selby, former professional actor, lifelong movie buff, wine rep extraordinaire, and all-around super star human.