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Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, Marion Cotillard, Abbie Cornish, Didier Bourdon ... see more see more... , Tom Hollander , Freddie Highmore , Isabelle Candelier , Kenneth Cranham , Archie Panjabi , Rafe Spall , Richard Coyle , Ben Righton , Patrick Kennedy , Ali Rhodes , Daniel Mays , Nila Aalia , Stephen Hudson , Giannina Facio , Lionel Briand , Maria Papas , Igor Panich , Oleg Sosnovikov , Magalie Woch , Valeria Bruni Tedeschi , Jacques Herlin , Catriona MacColl , Patrick Payet , Felicite du Jeu , Mitchell Mullen , Judi Dickerson , Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus , Philippe Mery , Dominique Laurent , Stewart Wright , Tom Stuart , Catherine Vinatier , Marine Casto , Gregg Chillin , Toney Tutini , Philippe Bergeron , Edita Brychta , Hélène Cardona , Jean-Louis Darville , Neil Dickson , Jean Gilpin , Nicholas Guest , Patrick Hillan , Frank Isles , Peter Lavin , Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson , Paula Jane Newman , Moira Quirk , Valeria Milenka Repnau , Darren Richardson , Jean-Michael Richaud , Samantha Jane Robson , Ian Ruskin , Linda Sans , Bruno Stephane , Karen Strassman , Jean-Paul Vignon , Craig Robert Young

Gladiator duo Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe re-team for this adaptation of author Peter Mayle's best-selling novel about a London-based investment banker who relocates to Provence in hopes of selling... read more read more... a small vineyard he has inherited from his recently deceased uncle. As a child, Max Skinner (Freddie Highmore) was taught to appreciate the finer things in life while wandering the vineyard estate of his sophisticated uncle Henry (Albert Finney). Life has a strange way or turning out how you least expect it to though, and 25 years later, Max (Russell Crowe) is now a prosperous moneyman wheeling and dealing in the cutthroat world of London business. When Max learns that Henry has recently passed away and that he has been named the sole beneficiary of his late uncle's modest estate, the keen businessman hastily arranges a flight to France in order to assess the value of the old property and get it prepped for sale. After Max arrives to find the vineyard in a crumbling state of disrepair, his troubles are further compounded by the stubbornness of gruff estate winemaker M. Duflot (Didier Bourdon) and the unexpected arrival of a determined California beauty named Christie (Abbie Cornish), who presents herself as a long-lost cousin while making a dubious claim to Henry's estate. Meanwhile, the overstressed Max reluctantly finds himself falling for local café owner and town siren Fanny (Marion Cotillard), whose formidable guard is quickly worn down by the smitten beneficiary. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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62% liked it

87,222 ratings

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25% liked it

128 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Release Date: November 10, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 27, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (4,822)

  • fb1576983399
    November 19, 2011
    fb1576983399
    It's a Romantic-Comedy that fails in the romance and comedy department. The story is oddly paced and Crowe seems a little lost trying to play a character in a Rom-Com.
  • BEACHBUNNI
    March 3, 2011
    BEACHBUNNI
    "Pardon my lips. They find joy in the most unusual places."
    Russell Crowe as Max Skinner, a hardened English businessman, who finds his heart being softened when he inherits his beloved late uncles chateau and vineyard in the French countryside. He works hard only to get a "va... read morecation" and slowly begins to appreciate the simple things in life... the acting around the table (led by Russell Crowe) is one of the best i've seen so far in a drama film, for a long time even though im not a huge fan of RC ,and Freddie Highmore, who played Crowes character when he was young also delivered a stellar performance in my opinion.
  • mumby1988
    February 5, 2011
    mumby1988
    All good directors make at least one really bad film, and considering how quickly Ridley Scott works these days, it was bound to happen sooner or later. After the production problems on Kingdom of Heaven, it only seemed fair that Scott would want to take on something much less am... read morebitious or epic. But in A Good Year, we find both director and star completely out of their depths, handling material which at best plays against their strengths and at worst is completely beneath them.

    Things start off in London with an agreeable first ten minutes. Apart from a clichéd shot of the Gherkin (Hollywood's way of reminding us that we are in London), the opening scenes on the trading floor are well-shot and well-played. Even though it's retreading old ground, with Russell Crowe pulling the exact same trick that Dan Aykroyd did in Trading Places, it's directed with a decent enough choice of camera angles to pull us in.

    Like all of Scott's films, there is no denying that A Good Year looks fantastic. Where Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven boasted washed-out colour palettes which took you into the heart of a bloody battle, A Good Year is a much more glossy and upbeat affair. The metallic blues and greens of the City of London are contrasted by the golden fields of the French countryside and the whitewashed walls of the chateau. This visual style works especially well in the flashback scenes, with the warm colour schemes helping to generate some sense of affection.

    Sadly, however, all this glossy shooting amounts to little more than putting cheap plonk into Champagne bottles, or old wine into new wine skins. Beneath its modern, bang-up-to-date surface, A Good Year is as tired and well-worn as any romantic comedy we've seen in the last ten years. It's trite, clichéd, sappy and contrived - in short, it's not good at all.

    The first big problem is with the cast. Albert Finney is the ideal choice for Uncle Henry and Freddie Highmore is pretty convincing at the young Max. But for all his many talents, Russell Crowe simply does not do light romantic comedy. He doesn't have any real comic timing, his English accent frequently wanders into Kiwi, and with his gruff baritone and prominent jawline he's not the most heart-warming screen presence. His portrayal of an eccentric English stock trader wanders very close to caricature both in voice and characterisation: sometimes he's trying to be suave like Cary Grant, sometimes clumsy and lovable like Hugh Grant, and he never gets either of them right.

    This problem becomes even more noticeable when Marion Cotillard is introduced. Cotillard is a great actress with real range and a magnetic screen presence, so much so that she often makes even her most formidable co-stars look like rank amateurs. This wasn't such a big deal in Big Fish, because Tim Burton knew how to keep the focus on the central father-son relationship without letting her character be just a cipher. But just as in Nine or Public Enemies, the film feels less dynamic when she isn't on screen, and once you've been introduced you really notice when she's gone.

    Because Crowe isn't a natural comic actor, the 'com' elements of this rom-com are played so broadly it's insulting. We get all sorts of highly choreographed pratfalls, such as Max falling face down into the mud at the bottom of the swimming pool, or the running jokes about scorpions entering the house. Scott even resorts to lazy camera tricks to hurry the jokes along, as if he himself didn't have faith in the screenplay. In a typical example, Max is given a Smart City Car to ferry himself around, and Scott speeds up the footage of him driving round and round a roundabout in such a fashion as to drain any enjoyment out of what was already a very simply joke.

    Then there is the plot itself, which is incredibly predictable and increasingly unbelievable. Just look at the setup: a cold-hearted but eccentric City trader goes out to a chateau in France with the intentional of selling it and getting on with his life. The shorter, more interesting and most ambitious option would have been to have said character sell the chateau and then go home again. That at least would have been a test of Scott's ability to take an unusual or implausible storyline and make it dramatically interesting.

    Instead, A Good Year settles for the same old story of a cold man's heart melting in the warm sun as he realises the meaning of life and the nature of happiness. In order to keep Crowe at the chateau, various sub-plots are introduced which only serve to make the story all the more contrived and convoluted. We might buy the idea of Max being suspended for a week for dodgy trading, but the arguments with Duflot, or the arrival of his cousin, or his relationship with Fanny Chenal, are all structured or invoked in a hotch-potch way. Whenever one element doesn't work or becomes boring, the film randomly picks on another, and when all of them become boring it either resorts to a flashback or a boring montage (and sometimes, as with the tennis match, we get both!).

    If we do take the time to focus on the characters, we really struggle to find any of them sympathetic or believable enough for us to invest our time in their travails. Sure, we're hardly in Noah Baumbach territory - we don't find ourselves hating everyone on screen after ten minutes. But it's hard to care about people who are either (a) exceedingly wealthy; (b) incompetent; (c) aimless and happy-go-lucky; or (d) all of the above.

    In its defence, A Good Year is at least trying to break free from the rom-com mould, in which the only relationship of note is between the leading stars, making it obvious that they will end up together. But even here it's doesn't have the strength of its convictions, settling for recycled Richard Curtis schmaltz and quirky set-pieces over the comparatively sharp dialogue going on in London. The central relationship between Crowe and Cotillard seems inherently mismatched due to their opposing outlooks on life and money, and the twist about the latter kissing Max when they were children just reeks of a screenwriter running out of ideas.

    On top of all this, the film presents a caricatured version of France, in which every native character drinks wine, eats croissants, smokes heavily or works in a café in the centre of town. Luflot and his wife live on a pittance to keep the vineyards going, and yet they are still able to produce a hearty banquet complete with highly expensive brandy. Even the few moments of cross-cultural humour, like Crowe's running jibe about Lance Armstrong to the French cyclists, feel totally lazy and unsophisticated.

    A Good Year is a huge misstep for both Scott and Crowe, and is frankly an all-round embarrassment. It is easily Scott's weakest film since Someone to Watch Over Me, and may well be the worst film he has ever made. It's even too annoying to be enjoyed as escapist tosh. The cast give their all and probably got a nice holiday in the process of making this. But for those of us who have to sit through the results of their bonnes vacances, A Good Year leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
  • wildaly14
    February 1, 2011
    wildaly14
    Nothing special here. It was nice to see Crowe in a different role but there was nothing new here. I think I've seen this kind of movie like 5 other times. Man gets villa and wants to sell it, meets girl, events happen that change his mind so he doesn't sell villa, and gets the g... read moreirl.
  • MrsInsomnia
    June 9, 2010
    MrsInsomnia
    Such a beautiful fairytaile
  • nelsonpickens
    May 26, 2010
    nelsonpickens
    Not a career leap for either Crowe or Scott, but its a very fun movie with a nice little "Enjoy Life" message at the end
  • neverteaseaweasel
    April 8, 2010
    neverteaseaweasel
    This was just ... awful. I had much fonder feeling towards A Good Year while it was just a vague, shadowy film I sort of wanted to watch someday. The actual storyline was not bad and Marion Cotillard was brilliant as always; but those are the only compliments I can give. Practica... read morelly every scene, every shot, every line, was just irritating in some way or another. I want to say that I do not like Russell Crowe, but that is stretching it a bit. I've only seem him in one other movie, so I cannot really have an accurate opinion of him. However, in this role, he is just ... wrong. Somebody like Johnny Depp could have shown, but Crowe should just stick to playing gladiators and sea captains. Just a huge disappointment for me. A Good Year is one of those rare films I've actually had a hard time forcing myself to sit through.
  • allan913
    January 9, 2010
    allan913
    Russel Crowe has never been better. His most astonishing and magnificent performance since A Beautiful Mind. Albert Finney gives a brilliant performance. A terrifically entertaining, frequently funny, very sweet and tastefully romantic film. Director, Ridley Scott's best film in ... read moreyear's. A triumph. A marvelous, wonderful and endlessly enjoyable movie that takes your breath away. Brilliant, excellent and outstanding. As good as movies get. Great fun from start to finish. A beautiful film that touches you, makes you laugh and makes you smile. Completely compelling and unforgettable. A truly amazing movie. Beautiful scenery and great values.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    November 6, 2009
    DragonEyeMorrison
    A cliche year.
  • ironclad1609
    October 27, 2009
    ironclad1609
    The story of the cold-hearted investment broker who's learning a lesson about what really counts in life may not be entirely new, but it is told without too much preaching here. The movie may not have anything spectacularly breathtaking to offer in those two hours (well, except f... read moreor the gorgeous Marion Cotillard and Abbie Cornish), but it flows rather well, is entertaining and just beautifully photographed. The French Provence almost feels like an additional character, and although the idyllic life there maybe contain one or another stereotype it is hard not to fall for it. Decent film, even though rather unusual for a director like Ridley Scott. But why should he not be allowed to make a movie that just celebrates the beauty of life, without anyone getting killed?

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Critic Reviews

Peter Travers
November 13, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Russell Crowe has many talents, but a gift for light comedy is not one of them.

Richard Roeper
November 13, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

There are some pretty funny things in there. Full Review

Peter Howell
November 10, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Crowe, a superb dramatic actor, is congenitally incapable of humour, especially when he tries slapstick. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
November 10, 2006
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Despite some stunning visuals and a lot of nice moments, the finished product feels like the work of an actor and director who are out of their element. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
November 10, 2006
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

The overall effect is one of a sumptuously laid table where the main course is overcooked.

Roger Moore
November 10, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

A Good Year is like a promising wine that's a bit new to the bottle. It goes down rough, but there's this marvelous aftertaste on the palate. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
November 10, 2006
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Close your eyes. And now imagine the whole thing re-cast and shot by Stanley Donen back in, say, 1962, with Cary Grant and Leslie Caron. Full Review

Stephen Holden
November 10, 2006
Stephen Holden, New York Times

A Good Year, an innocuous, feel-good movie that reunites Russell Crowe with the director Ridley Scott, is a three-P movie: pleasant, pretty and predictable. One might add piddling.

Lou Lumenick
November 10, 2006
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

A Good Year may not be vintage stuff, but it goes down fairly smoothly.

Jack Mathews
November 10, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

Like a fragile Provence wine left too long in the sun, Ridley Scott's romantic comedy A Good Year spoiled somewhere between the publication of Peter Mayle's novel and this cockamamie adaptation. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Uncle Henry: A man should acknowledge his losses just as gracefully as he celebrate his victories.
    • Max Skinner: This place does not suit my life.
    • Fanny Chenal: No Max, it's your life that does not suit this place.
    • Max Skinner: I have an obligatory cultural activity in the village tonight.
    • Charlie Willis: Can I come? Will there be girls?
    • Max Skinner: No and yes.
  • Everything matures... eventually.
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  • In which movie did two characters in a tennis match rappresented Lacoste and Fred Perry?  Answer »
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  • Who directed the movie "A good year"?  Answer »
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