A Good Year (2006)reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell
In “A Good Year,” a British investment broker, played by Russell Crowe (Cinderella Man), inherits a vineyard in Province, France, from his late uncle, played by Albert Finney (Big Fish). He soon discovers a new laid-back lifestyle, as he tries to renovate the estate to be sold at top price. The writing was this picture’s greatest strength. Its character arcs, development and a strong subplot really made this feature a delight. Considering not much has been released thus far (Dec. 12, 2006) for Academy Award contention, I’d say “A Good Year” has a chance to take a couple of nods, but it appears no one is going to see it. Its studio, masterminded by the infinite wisdom of Rupert Murdoch, expects the feature to fail at the box office and announced it publicly. Way to back your product, f**kers. Crowe did just fine as usual. Although the role wasn’t as challenging as say “A Beautiful Mind” or “The Insider.” Finney was also very good, again, as usual. Director Ridley Scott, who directed Crowe to an Academy Award® in “The Gladiator,” did his best job of allowing the material to carry the movie, and not get too carried away with being Ridley Scott-the director. He was extremely mindful of the picture’s strengths and where its laughs would come from. At times in the movie, some of the win lingo and the wine master’s accent was a little tough for me to get through. I think it made a couple of plot points murky for me, but I enjoyed it thoroughly none-the-less. Otherwise, this was a pleasant night at the movies, if you can catch it before Murdoch and his cronies pull it from screens. Benn - Where's the Humanity?
This was a nice little story with a great sense of humor.