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| A Good Year (Widescreen Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Ridley Scott
Actors: Russell Crowe, Freddie Highmore, Abbie Cornish, Albert Finney, Rafe Spall
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $5.56
You Save: $14.42 (72%)
New (39) Used (38) from $5.56
Avg. Customer Rating:  123 reviews
Sales Rank: 659
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 118
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 2240701
UPC: 024543407010
EAN: 0024543407010
ASIN: B000LXHK2C
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2006
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) is a highly successful investment expert with no time for life outside work. When his estranged uncle dies Max inherits the vineyard in France where he grew up as a child and his first intention is to sell the vineyard as quickly as possible. But after spending unexpected time at the Vineyard in France he discovers a part of himself that he had lost and experiences romance and a blossoming new love affair with a beautiful French woman that changes his life forever.Features:Commentary by Ridley ScottMaking of A Good YearTheatrical TrailerSystem Requirements:Run Time: 114 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 024543407010 Manufacturer No: 2240701
Amazon.com
A feel-good movie that highlights the beauty of France as much as it does its stars, A 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 utilize Crowe's range of skills, the actor is charming in his role and A Good Year provides a fine time in the cinemas. --Jae-Ha Kim Extras from A Good Year 
Russell Crowe and Co-Stars on Filming in Provence | 
A Good Year Virtual Vinyard |
Beyond A Good Year 
A Year in Provence | 
More from Director Ridley Scott |
More from Russell Crowe |
Stills from A Good Year
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| Customer Reviews: Read 118 more reviews...
 Pablum for a Evening's View March 1, 2007
34 out of 50 found this review helpful
Peter Mayle's popular novel 'A Year in Provence' has been transferred to the screen by screenwriter Marc Klein under the odd direction of Ridley Scott, best known for such films as 'Hannibal', 'Gladiator', 'Matchstick Men', 'Thelma and Louise', 'Black Hawk Down', 'Blade Runner' etc. and the result may surprise many viewers. No, this is not a shocker of a film but rather a too familiar tale of a man obsessed with making money who inherits a vineyard and chateau in Provence from the uncle that served as his family as a child and in returning to the old estate, finds the earth and his memories too long buried about how he loved the space of arrested time of his childhood.
The man is British financial wizard Max Skinner (Russell Crowe in a very subdued performance) who as a young bright lad (Freddie Highmore) lived with Uncle Henry Skinner (Albert Finney), learning the ins and outs of growing grapes and making wine. Max returns to the chateau after Uncle Henry's death with all intentions of polishing up the neglected place to place on the market to make yet more money. The live-in couple who maintain the place (Francis Duflot - Didier Bourdon - and his wife Ludivine - Isabelle Candelier) challenge Max's decision to sell the place, hiding some secrets about the vintages that will eventually alter the course of the story. Max slowly falls in love with his memories of his childhood, reconnecting with his love for his uncle, discovering a young beauty Fanny (Marion Cotillard) who owns a bistro and was actually a childhood 'friend' to Max, and also discovering that the philandering uncle had an illegitimate daughter Christie (Abbie Cornish) who visits the chateau to get to know who her father was (bringing along a deep knowledge of winemaking from California's Napa Valley!). The film is then a struggle between Max's obsession with money as abetted by his home coworkers Gemma (Archie Panjabi) and Charlie (Tom Hollander) and his changing need and love for the life and memories bound tightly to his Provence chateau. How it all works out is the relaxing if predictable finale of the story.
The cast is attractive (including even a bit part for the beautiful and talented Valeria Bruni Tedeschi!) and seem to meld with Ridley Scott's concept of offering a little fluff of French dessert. It is light in vein but beautiful to look at and it is interesting to see Scott and Crowe together in a non-violent venture! Grady Harp, February 07
Ridley Scott's Light-hearted Fare Has A Hard Time Finding Its Footing, But I Smiled & I Enjoyed It For What It Was November 13, 2006
31 out of 45 found this review helpful
MOVIE: Ridley Scott has proven himself when it comes to comedy and light-hearted fares. While Thelma & Louise and Matchstick Men weren't exactly family films, they were certainly different than the action epics we know that Ridley Scott can masterfully do. Scott took a lot of heat for Kingdom Of Heaven, but for those who purchased and saw the director's cut know that the film was unjustly cut down and ruined. A Good Year on the other hand is just not a great project. The script doesn't offer anything we haven't seen before, it's just a schmaltzy tale about a man who learns some life lessons and falls in love in the process.
The problem with the movie is that has an incredibly hard time trying to find its footing. Ridley Scott knows how to use the setting to really capture the essence of a story, and he undoubtedly does that. However, there were some scenes where I was just wondering what was going on. It was as if I were watching a cartoon, especially in one scene where Russell Crowe drives around a fountain in his Smartcar in fast motion. Some choices I seriously questioned, and I usually don't question Ridley Scott. Okay, now let's move onto the positive side of the film. Once we get into the second act the film does indeed find its footing and stays with a consistent tone. We can finally relax and watch the movie for what it is. The characters are all really great even though they are pretty flat. The film is also beautifully shot, which is the essence of a Ridley Scott film. He contrasts England and France perfectly, and honestly I think that's the reason he took the project. When he read the script and saw that the essence of the film was a man out of place in his surroundings I'm sure that intrigued him. Unfortunately we don't go very far, and the lessons learned are pretty simple and not too meaningful. Visually the film is stunning, and musically there were some great choices. A lot of great songs are chosen to help the movie move along. Marc Streitenfield makes his head composer debut with A Good Year. Streitenfield previously worked with Hans Zimmer at Media Ventures and was a close assistant and editor for Zimmer. Streitenfield's score is very light and creates the right tone for the film, I cannot help but hear the similarities to previous Zimmer scores. As a Hans Zimmer fan I'm saying that in a good way though.
ACTING: Russell Crowe is a great actor, whether you hate his real-life antics or not. He plays a stuck-up British stock broker who rekindles his childhood memories with his life loving uncle. He saves the movie and makes it entertaining to watch, and as an audience we can accept the fact that he is a bit cold-hearted and we want him to warm up. So, instead saying "hurry up and learn your life lesson", we can enjoy the character discovering the lessons for himself. The supporting cast also add great charm to the film's tone.
BOTTOM LINE: The film made me smile. I laughed a bit and felt good, especially during a scene where Russell Crowe drives by some French bikers, flips them off, and yells "LANCE ARMSTRONG!". The acting is decent and it's a good movie. The only problem is that the story is a bit unoriginal and the tone is rarely consistent. Wait for DVD, not a must see in theaters. Hopefully Ridley Scott will be more in his element when American Gangster comes out next year.
 A very 'Good' film indeed... December 26, 2006
27 out of 30 found this review helpful
I really don't understand all the bad reviews from critics and reviewers alike for I personally loved this movie. Now, it's not the grandest spectacle to grace the big screen nor is it Russell Crowe's finest hour, but `A Good Year' is some quality entertainment and serves it purpose in the relaxed and happy season that is fall. Having just seen the poorly made and highly overrated `Catch a Fire' I was ready to relax and watch something entertaining and enjoyable, and being the Russell Crowe fan that I undoubtedly am I decided that `A Good Year' would be just that movie.
Max Skinner (Crowe) is a stuck up British stock broker who at one time was a kind hearted soul, and his fondest memories are littered with his Uncle Henry (Finney) and his Chateau in France. Upon his Uncles death Max is left the sole owner of Henry's estate, and in like fashion he flies out there in order to sell if for profit and make it back ASAP. What he doesn't bank on is Christie Roberts (Abbie Cornish) showing up claiming to be the long lost daughter of Henry and claiming rights to his estate. Throughout the course of the film Max has to go through the stages of redemption, which include discovering the jerk he has become and rediscovering his inner child.
The two key components to his wonderful film is the scenery and the acting. The script and storyline as some have already pointed out is very unoriginal, we've seen this done plenty of times, but the beauty that is France, as well as the beauty that is Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard (who plays Fanny, the seductive woman who steals Max's heart) more than make up for the familiarity. Crowe is, as many know, my all time favorite actor ever, and I feel that he can carry any film he touches. Whether you are a fan of his phone throwing escapades or not, you have to admit that the man is gifted, very gifted. Here he proves that by being just as compelling and engrossing laughing and smiling as he is riding into battle. Albert Finney and Marion Cotillard are also wonderful here, but to me it was little Freddie Highmore (such a talented young man) who outshined most in the cast (can anyone outshine Crowe...I don't believe so).
As I said in the beginning, I don't understand all the bad press. So what if it's no `A Beautiful Mind' or `Gladiator', so what if Russell was not Lucky Jack or James Braddock, `A Good Year' is still a good time and Max Skinner is just as fun as Crowe ever was. I recommend it, I enjoyed it, no better yet, I loved every minute of it.
 "I don't do weekends." November 13, 2006
25 out of 44 found this review helpful
It's tough being a Russell Crowe fan. I've been one for a over a decade now, and boy have we had our ups and downs. "A Good Year" will be remembered as a midpoint; not a pinnacle, but not a barrel bottom either. Which way will he go from here?
Based on the Peter Mayle novel, the film chronicles the very contrived adventures of a ruthless business man as the magic of Provence turns him into a cuddly teddybear. That's pretty much it.
He meets an alluring french girl (Marion Cotillard), argues with locals, has a conflict with his newly- discovered cousin (icky undertones), and finds his soul. What originality squeezed from that plot would have to be in fresh performances, and they just aren't there. Here's the rundown:
The Good: Eh, not much. Truly spectacular cinematography. Misty vineyards and Monet-palate hillsides. Performance wise, only Archie Panjabi as Max's street smart, oddly loyal assistant stands out.
The Ok: Russell himself. He's just not that into it. There are moments when we see him, the Russell Crowe of "Rough Magic" and all else pre-"Gladiator", and there's a bit of the old electricity. But the rest of the time he just goes through the motions. The Crowe of ten years ago might have made something special of this. Albert Finney, as Max's irascible old uncle, is Albert Finney. Everybody else is just sort of there, taking up space and being forgettable.
The Bad: A sub par script that fights pace-wise with Ridley Scott's edgy style. It just doesn't gel. We never really care all that much what happens to any of the characters, or the lovely chateau at the center of the conflict. And the chemistry between Marion Cotillard and Russell is nonexistent. Not even a spark.
In conclusion, skip this one, at least until the DVD. It's hard to covey in words how not worth your time the film is. It's unpleasant where it should be sweet, dull where it should be deep, and off-putting where it should be sexy. The cast, I'm sure, had a great time drinking and dining in France, but we don't get to taste the food or the wine, so it's no party for us. Skip it.
Grade: C-
Time for a French view on this film maybe ? March 15, 2007
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
Oui, this is a "feel-good" movie. Oui, the script has almost no surprises in it. Oui, Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe and the rest of the cast must have had a great time shooting this.
Still, this movie delivers exactly what i expected. It made me smile, it made me laugh ("Lance Armstrong !"). It is a touch short on drama. Bon, to be honest the drama bit is poorly handled.
The actors are good and i did not feel i was making them a favour for paying to watch this movie. Ridley Scott delivers some nice views. Fair enough.
Relax, let the movie take you where you know it is going, and enjoy that simple pleasure. There are many movies out there with greater ambitions but that deliver far less.
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