A Good Year
Director: Ridley Scott
Rated: M
Now screening



Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) is a high risk stock broker living each day in the quest for making more money. Notified of his Uncle's death, he learns that he has been left a winery in the French region of Provence. Intending to sell the winery, Max is surprised by the memories that come back when he arrives. His journey of self discovery becomes more complex as he meets the locals and begins to re-connect with the person that became lost amongst the various stock market bonds.

This second team up of Director Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe finds both men treading unfamiliar ground. Not known for their comedic sensibilities, both men have attempted to show their range in a light romantic comedy amongst the vines of Provence. 'A Good Year' has been previously adapted as a successful television series, which worked better because it took the time necessary for the audience to connect with the characters. The film version suffers from a rushed story that makes the transformation of the hard-nosed trader into a sensitive man somewhat unbelievable.

The casting of Russell Crowe in the lead was a mistake. In both versions of the character, Crowe fails to convincingly portray the guilt he feels in losing touch with his favourite Uncle. Crowe also seems uneasy playing the comedy scenes which themselves are overdone and telegraphed in advance, though the rest of the cast are adequate but their characters seem to fall into the 'eccentric rich folk' cliche which becomes more annoying than charming.

It's difficult to fathom what Ridley Scott saw in the material. The 'journey of self-discovery' angle has been filmed many times before, with this movie not adding anything new. With a script that doesn't know where to go, and Scott's usual sense of vision and energy not in evidence, it seemed he put his directorial reins on autopilot. The lush scenery is well filmed, as expected, but the facade of a good view cannot disguise the under whelming nature of the screenplay.

If 'A Good Year' represents an unusual departure for all concerned, it's one which doesn't work. The actors can't seem to grasp their characters, with the director apparently enjoying a holiday at the movie studios expense. A very disappointing effort, 'A Good Year' is one of Scott's weaker cinematic vintages.

Patrick Moore