A Good Year (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Marc Klein (screenplay)
Peter Mayle (novel)

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Everything matures... eventually.

Plot:

A British investment broker inherits his uncle's chateau and vineyard in Provence, where he spent much of his childhood. He discovers a new laid-back lifestyle as he tries to renovate the estate to be sold.

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Vineyard | Chateau | France | Chess

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Max Skinner
Marion Cotillard	...	Fanny Chenal
Albert Finney	...	Uncle Henry Skinner
Freddie Highmore	...	Young Max Skinner
Rafe Spall	...	Kenny
Archie Panjabi	...	Gemma
Richard Coyle	...	Amis
Tom Hollander	...	Charlie Willis
Ben Righton	...	Trader #1
Patrick Kennedy	...	Trader #2
Ali Rhodes	...	20-Something Beauty
Daniel Mays	...	Bert the Doorman
Nila Aalia	...	Newscaster #1
Stephen Hudson	...	Newscaster #2
Giannina Facio	...	Maitre D'

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

118 min | Canada:118 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Russian

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby

Certification:

Ireland:12A | Singapore:PG | Germany:o.Al. | Malaysia:U | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:Atp | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Brazil:10 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42357) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:AL | South Africa:10L

Filming Locations:

Albion Riverside, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Max Skinner, while driving in France, twice taunts road cyclists by shouting "Lance Armstrong", the name of the American racing cyclist who won the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Christie Roberts finds the scorpions in her window in the morning, Madame Duflot races to her aid with a whisk broom. When she gets there, she starts hitting the scorpions with a fly swatter.

Quotes:

Gemma: Tosser.

Movie Connections:

Features Et Dieu... créa la femme (1956)

Soundtrack:

Vous, qui passez sans me voir

A Delightful Way to Spend an Evening

As a longtime fan of Russell Crowe, I do know that he can be funny, charming, sweet and romantic, not only on film but in real life. His recent appearances on the TV promotional circuit have proved this once again. Those who only know his films since LA Confidential for the most part focus on his ability to capture and project power, strength and inner turmoil. Those who have seen his films such as Proof, For the Moment, Love In Limbo and The Sum of Us have seen his ability to show the gentler, funnier and often more uncertain sides of the human experience. (I would also argue that these are readily seen in his films such as The Insider, A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man.) A Good Year is a wonderful return to the Russell of those earlier films. Like a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, you know just where it's likely going to take you, but with such lovely, engaging people in such a wonderful setting you just want to enjoy the trip. And so you shall. What a refreshing change from the overheated, oversexed, over special "effected" and over bloodied fare that Hollywood usually dishes out. Thank you so much Mr. Crowe and Mr. Scott for my little vacation in the South of France!