A Good Year (2006)

"You'll come to see that a man learns nothing from winning. The act of losing, however, can elicit great wisdom. Not least of which is, uh... how much more enjoyable it is to win. It's inevitable to lose now and again. The trick is not to make a habit of it."

Max Skinner (Crowe) is a top investment banker in London.  He takes big risks which usually results in big rewards.  He doesn't like people and makes enemies easily.  The only person he truly cares about is his Uncle Henry (Finney), who is his only living relative.  After a particularly risky financial stunt, he gets that news that Henry has passed away.

Max travels to Henry's home and vineyard in France, which he has inherited.  Despite happy memories from his childhood (Highmore) at Henry's, he plans to sell the place.  The house needs repairs and the vineyard produces disgusting wine, despite the best efforts of dedicated winemaker Francis Duflot (Bourdon).  He is put on suspension at work and meets Christie (Cornish), who claims to be Henry's illegitimate child.


When director Ridley Scott wanted to make a film near his home in France, he turned to Peter Mayle's novel A Good Year.  Mayle declined the opportunity to write the screenplay, so they turned to screenwriter Marc Klein who made some changes to the story / characters to make it better suited to film.  The final product feels like an authentic French film and decidedly different from other films by Scott.

Taking the lead is Scott's usual leading man, Russell Crowe.  Scott and Crowe started working together in 2000 on The Gladiator and have made 5 films together (this is the second collaboration).  Crowe is unexpectedly good in the role and seems to relish the chance to play a comedic role.  Albert Finney is the perfect choice to bring Uncle Henry to life.  He and Freddie Highmore have excellent chemistry.

The plot keeps you guessing and the cast is game for everything that is thrown at them.  A well-made and interesting film.

A Good Year (2006) 117 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for language and some sexual content
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe as Max Skinner
Albert Finney as Uncle Henry
Marion Cotillard as Fanny Chenal
Abbie Cornish as Christie Roberts
Didier Bourdon as Francis Duflot
Isabelle Candelier as Ludivine Duflot
Freddie Highmore as Young Max Skinner
Tom Hollander as Charlie Willis
Rafe Spall as Kenny
Richard Coyle as Amis
Archie Panjabi as Gemma