A Good Year (2006)

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.

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers:

Marc Klein (screenplay), Peter Mayle (novel)

Stars:

Russell Crowe, Abbie Cornish, Albert Finney

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Highmore	...	Young Max
Albert Finney	...	Uncle Henry
Russell Crowe	...	Max Skinner
Rafe Spall	...	Kenny
Archie Panjabi	...	Gemma
Richard Coyle	...	Amis
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'
Tom Hollander	...	Charlie Willis
Lionel Briand	...	Rental Car Employee

Storyline

After years of no contact with his Uncle Henry, London banker and bond trader Max Skinner learns that Henry has died intestate, so Max inherits a château and vineyard in Provence. Max spent part of his childhood there, learning maxims and how to win and lose, and honing his killer instinct (at chess, which serves him well in finance). Max goes to France intent on selling the property. He spends a few days there, getting the property ready to show. Memories, a beautiful woman, and a young American who says she's Henry's illegitimate daughter interrupt his plans. Did Max the boy know things that Max the man has forgotten?

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Plot Keywords:

chateau | provence france | inheritance | based on novel | wine | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes it takes a change of scenery to have a change of heart.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The American customer in the restaurant is not asking for pickles when she cries out, "Gerkin!" She is trying (unsuccessfully) to say the French word for waiter (garçon), which is more correctly pronounced "Gar-SON."

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Goofs

Francis Duflot doesn't appear to age between when Max is age 13 to when Max is bequeathed the vineyard at about age 35.

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Quotes

Christie Roberts: I spend summers working in a vineyard in California.
Francis Duflot: [Chuckles] In California, they don't make wine. They make Hawaiian Punch.

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Connections

Referenced in Big Bang: Episode #1.3 (2007)

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Soundtracks

Boum
Music by Charles Trenet
Lyrics by Charles Trenet
Performed by Adrien Chevalier

User Reviews

Pleasant and likable. Gorgeous views. But does not quite live up to its pedigree.

You can't not like this movie. the scenery is absolutely jaw-dropping, drop-dead gorgeous. It's worth a trip to the cinema just to bask in the lush French countryside. With such stellar talent as Ridley Scott, Albert Finney, and Russel Crowe, however, one expected a tad bit more.

Not to say this wasn't enjoyable. I'm glad I went. But it was a '7', even though those involved were all of the '10' calibre. The script was a bit 'jerky'--- i.e., it went in fits and starts. The frustration humor was definitely annoying--- it's not ever my thing, and wasn't here, either. But the cast was immensely likable, and again, the scenery. Oh my gawd!!! What a visual treat, and a pleasant enough rom-com.

This Ridley Scott directorial effort reminded me a lot of director John Boorman, and his 1989 (-ish) under-rated movie, 'Where the Heart Is'. Boorman was 'getting on' in his successful career, and he made that movie with one of his daughters as producer, and maybe writer, too (?). As an aside, she sadly died from brain cancer, so this movie is a kind of memorial, too, I would guess.

Its initial concept was as a British comedy of eccentricities, and fitted the English context and culture perfectly. It was translated and transported, for some unknown reason, to a New York locale, with a stellar cast--- Dabney Coleman, Uma Thurmon, Maury Chaykin, Suzi Amis, Christopher Plummer, etc. The art work and some of the scenes were amazing and heart-opening and stupendous! The movie, however, had some fundamental flaws as well. I suspect something went horribly wrong with some scenes or characters or something, and an important chunk or chunks were cut out of some key portions. Whatever happened--- it was somehow 'broken', and thus will never gain the wide-spread acclaim and fame it could have had, and maybe deserves in spite of the mistakes. Nonetheless, I own TWO copies of the video (they are impossible to get anymore, so they're in my 'vault'), and have watched it 2 dozen times over the years. Despite its frustrating limitations, I LOVE that movie!

Sorry, I rambled. the point is, it was a largely beautiful and mostly entertaining 'stumble' by a GREAT auteur who was seeking a new way to express himself. 'A Good Year' may be the same: Star talent all around, a thing of beauty to admire and enjoy, but, alas, some quirky and rather important flaws, too.

Oh well. At least Ridley Scott took an artistic chance. At least he showed up! He deserves our praise for that, and you might want to go see this flick anyway--- you'll like it! It's a great 'tone' and 'mood piece'--- uplifting and a bit soppy, in the best possible way!

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French Russian

Release Date:

10 November 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Good Year

Filming Locations:

Cucuron, Vaucluse, France

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,721,526, 12 November 2006

Gross USA:

$7,459,300

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$42,269,923

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox 2000 Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Ingenious Film Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1