A Good Year

Rating: M - Contains Offensive Language.
Duration: 112 mins.
Genre: Drama.
Actors: Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, Tom Hollander, Abbie Cornish, Richard Coyle, Freddie Highmore, Archie Panjabi, Giannina Facio.
Director: Ridley Scott.
Release Date: Available Now.

Synopsis
Highly successful investment expert, Max Skinner, inherits the vineyard of his childhood when his estranged uncle dies. Intending to sell the vineyard as quickly as possible, he takes leave to visit and sort out the legal requirements, but along the way rediscovers the magic of his childhood…

The Reality
A Good Year in reality is light fluff, with no real substance. It’s a predictable if somewhat charming, occasionally funny drama.

Russell Crowe plays the part of Max Skinner, an investment expert who plays hard and fast and is at the top of his game. He likes to live in the fast lane, and settling down isn’t in his plans.

So when his estranged uncle dies and leaves him the French Villa and Vineyard where he spent most of his childhood, only one thing comes to mind: how much can I get for it.

Of course to sell it he has to take a – gasp – holiday and re-visit the Villa and sort through the legal procedures.

As predictable as they come, not everything goes according to plan and Max starts a gradual change in his outlook on life.

It’s pretty much movies – and acting – by the numbers, but does make for an easy, enjoyable night on the couch.

Food for thought
Is it time you re-visited your childhood?

Special Features
• Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott and Marc Klein
• Behind the scenes
• Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe Promo
• Music videos

There’s not much in the special features, the Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe Promo is nothing short of a cheesy infomercial for the movie, the commentary plays like two men discussing their conquests, and the music video’s are all of Russ and his band.