A Good Year

Having read some negative reviews of A Good Year, I wasn't sure what to expect when my friend bought some tickets to this. While some of the slapstick, such the mud-filled pool sequence, did grate on me, it did get better as it went along. Russell Crowe plays a London stock broker who has inherited Uncle Albert Finney's French villa after his death. The same villa that provided some wonderful childhood memories as depicted by Finney and Freddie Highmore as the younger Crowe. There's also a couple of beautiful women in Abbie Cornish and Marion Cotillard. So in summation, this is an uneven, but still enjoyable romantic comedy that should please anyone who likes that sort of thing. A nice departure for director Ridley Scott.

This was pretty good, a bit of a departure for Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott as its a "charming romantic comedy" but it works. Crowe plays a London Investment banker who inherits a vineyard in France and finds his life changing for the better as he goes about the process of renovating, selling it and falling in love. Not a terribly unique story and I didn't care too much for Crowe in the romantic comedy role. Some of his scenes felt forced (the pool, driving the mini car) but this is still an enjoyable, well made and amusing movie with gorgeous scenery. I did like Albert Finny and Freddie Highmore in the flashback scenes and the vineyard estate is breathtaking. A nice escape with very little thought needed. Reminded me of Under A Tuscan Sun with Dianne Lane. 6/18/14