Comedy drama and Ridley Scott are not two things you would normally associate, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott are, so teaming up again after 'Gladiator' they join forces to bring us 'A Good Year'. It is the story of a high-flying stockbroker (Crowe) who is basically an absolute person without a father, he cares about no one, loves money and especially loves being an arrogant git. But when his uncle Henry dies and leaves him a vineyard in France his initial thoughts are how much can he sell it for but over the course of the film he awakens within himself distant memories he thought he'd buried and begins to see things a little differently. Splashed with a little tragedy as well as the humour the film does make you think about some of life's big questions such as is money important? or is love important? What makes someone happy? Etc but without ever being over sentimental or too deep. The film is populated by an array of characters both in London and France that add a richness to Crowe's central performance and some unusual camera work from Scott make the film flow along at a pace just above relaxing. The scenery is as beautiful as you can expect from the south of France and forms a lush backdrop to the proceedings, as does Henry's run down villa. Ultimately it is a film about one mans struggle with his identity in a world where he thought he had to behave a certain way. It is his interaction with the people he meets and the lessons he realises he learnt from Henry as a child that in a way were detrimental to start with but eventually lead him to make the right choices. Well directed and acted, this is a film that wears its heart on it sleeve, it is warm and welcoming, funny and sad, different from his usual subject matter but none the less another film Scott can be proud of.
Review of A Good Year
