*** This is a film only review ***
A Good Year is adapted from the novel of the same name by the prolific Francophile author Peter Mayle, and embraces the essence of his writing which actively celebrates the astounding beauty of the Provencal landscape, culture and quirky inhabitants.
THE ... Read review
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A Good Year
Everything matures... eventually. When high-flying Englishman businessman Max Skinner
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(Crowe) inherits the vineyard in Provence where he grew up with his uncle Henry (Albert Finney) he arrives at his new property with the express intention of promptly selling it only to meets an American woman who claims that the land is actually hers...
A Good Year [2006]
A feel-good movie that highlights the beauty of France as much as it does its stars,A Good
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Yearprovides a languid, gorgeous viewing experience. Director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe--who first worked together on the Academy Award-winningGladiator--are reunited in this romantic film, which is based on Peter Mayle's bookA Year in Provence.Crowe plays Max, a workaholic London bonds trader who doesn't know the meaning of vacation. When his uncle dies, leaving him a picturesque estate in the south of France, Max views it as an opportunity to cash in the vinery and pocket the profits. The film is reminiscent of Diane Lane'sUnder the Tuscan Sunin the way the scenery plays as much of a role in the film as its characters. The lush village and streaming sunlight portray Provence as an idyllic, magical place. Even Max falls under its spell. While not a particularly likeable character, especially in the early part of the film, Max also isn't a bad guy. When he gets the chance to live life at a less manic pace than which he is used to, he finds that a good year isn't dependant on a financial windfall. Though Scott tries to drum up some suspense in the film (Is the beautiful visitor really Max's illegitimate cousin? Will Max fall in love with the feisty local woman he trades quips with?) nothing that happens comes as much of a surprise. Still, while the film doesn't fully utilise Crowe's range of skills, the actor is charming in his role andA Good Yearprovides fine viewing.--Jae-Ha Kim
A Good Year [2006]
A feel-good movie that highlights the beauty of France as much as it does its stars, A
... more
Good Year provides a languid, gorgeous viewing experience. Director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe--who first worked together on the Academy Award-winning Gladiator--are reunited in this romantic film, which is based on Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence. Crowe plays Max, a workaholic London bonds trader who doesn't know the meaning of vacation. When his uncle dies, leaving him a picturesque estate in the south of France, Max views it as an opportunity to cash in the vinery and pocket the profits. The film is reminiscent of Diane Lane's Under the Tuscan Sun in the way the scenery plays as much of a role in the film as its characters. The lush village and streaming sunlight portray Provence as an idyllic, magical place. Even Max falls under its spell. While not a particularly likeable character, especially in the early part of the film, Max also isn't a bad guy. When he gets the chance to live life at a less manic pace than which he is used to, he finds that a good year isn't dependant on a financial windfall. Though Scott tries to drum up some suspense in the film (Is the beautiful visitor really Max's illegitimate cousin? Will Max fall in love with the feisty local woman he trades quips with?) nothing that happens comes as much of a surprise. Still, while the film doesn't fully utilise Crowe's range of skills, the actor is charming in his role and A Good Year provides fine viewing. --Jae-Ha Kim
Advantages: A decent feel-good flick with beautiful shots of Provencal landscape. Disadvantages: Predictable and unoriginal plot.
*** This is a film only review ***
A Good Year is adapted from the novel of the same name by the prolific Francophile author Peter Mayle, and embraces the essence of his writing which actively celebrates the astounding beauty of the Provencal landscape, culture and quirky inhabitants.
THE MAIN CAST
Russell Crowe - Max Skinner Freddie Highmore - Young Max
Albert Finney - Uncle Henry
Marion Cotillard - Fanny Chenal
Francis Duflot - Didier Bourdon
... ...get your life back?"
A Good Year begins with the peaceful, placid atmosphere of a rambling vineyard estate, "La Siroque", in Provence and a young boy, Max (Highmore), playing chess and chatting about wine with his affable and slightly eccentric Uncle Henry (Finney). The dappled light of a long-lost childhood soon switches place with gritty, modern day London, where a grown Max (Crowe) is a hard-nosed successful bonds trader, greedily devoted to ...
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21.10.2006
Quick review of A Good Year (DVD) Review ofA Good Year (DVD)by
freyag
A rather sedate but thoroughly enjoyable feel-good movie. Max Skinner is a successful city trader who travels to Provence after the death of his uncle to sell the vineyard he has inherited, only to rediscover himself and what is really important in life, as well as falling in love with France, the vineyard and a local French girl. An excellent cast, and another triumph from Ridley Scott.
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19.06.2007
A Good Year Review ofA Good Year (DVD)by
duckie567
Advantages: Funny and easy to watch Disadvantages: No action
...you want to get on a plane and go tp France. If you are going to France on holiday, it is a good film to watch to get you in into the French way of life. The story whilst a bit predictable is funny and easy to watch. Albert Finney does what he does best, playing a wine drinking uncle who leaves his vineyard to his nephew, Max Skinner, played by Russell Crowe. It is fairly obvious that although Crowe's character initially wants to sell the vineyard, ...
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