A Good Year

3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (186 customer reviews)
A success-driven investment banker's life begins to change when he travels to Provence to look after a wine estate he inherited from his late uncle, and meets a woman there who also lays claim to the property.
  • Starring: Russell Crowe, Albert Finney
  • Directed by: Ridley Scott
  • Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
  • Release year: 2006
  • Studio: Fox
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A Good Year (Full-Screen Edition)
Price: $8.09 - Includes the Amazon Instant Video 48 hour rental as a gift with purchase. Available to US Customers Only.
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Product Details
Synopsis: A success-driven investment banker's life begins to change when he travels to Provence to look after a wine estate he inherited from his late uncle, and meets a woman there who also lays claim to the property.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Albert Finney
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Runtime: 1 hour 58 minutes
Release year: 2006
Studio: Fox
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content
ASIN: B000OXHRRC (Rental) and B000NTMWYU (Purchase)
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Rental rights: 48 hour viewing period Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Compatible with: Mac and Windows PC online viewing, compatible instant streaming devices, TiVo DVRs. System requirements
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)
Also available on DVD
Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 2006
  • MPAA: Rated PG-13 for language and some sexual content
  • Production Company: Fox 2000 Pictures, Scott Free Productions
  • USA Box Office: $ 7 Million
  • Worldwide Box Office: $ 26 Million
  • Filming Locations: Albion Riverside, Battersea, London, England, UK | Bloomberg Offices, Finsbury Square, Broadgate, London, England, UK | Bluebird Cafe, Kings Road, Chelsea, London, England, UK | Bonnieux, Vaucluse, France | Chateau la Canorgue, Bonnieux, Vaucluse, France | Chateau les Eydins, Bonnieux, Vaucluse, France | Cucuron, Vaucluse, France | Gordes, Vaucluse, France | Hotel le Renaissance, Gordes, Vaucluse, France | Lloyd's Building, Lime Street, Broadgate, London, England, UK | London, England, UK | Marseille Provence airport, Bouches-du-Rhône, France | Ménerbes, Vaucluse, France | Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly, London, England, UK | Rail Station, Avignon, Vaucluse, France | Swiss Re Tower - The Gherkin, St. Mary Axe, Broadgate, London, England, UK
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
88 of 93 people found the following review helpful
A very 'Good' film indeed... December 26, 2006
Format:DVD
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.
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48 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"A Good Year" deals with the story of Max (Crowe), a heartless guy who doesn't "do weekends" and has "questionable" work ethics (you could say), who goes back to France to his recently deceased uncle's vineyards in Provence in order to sell the property. Of course the movie is completely predictable : he falls in love with the local georgeous girl (Marion Cotillard) and he changes back into this guy who loves life and is nice and all of that good stuff. But don't hold that against the movie, because you'd then be missing out on a really good one.

The movie's been described as "Under the Tuscan Sun" with a male lead, and I guess that's somewhat accurate but at the same time not really. It does play the same stories what with getting situated in a beautiful environment, but the two lead characters in both movies are very different from one another. Diane Lane's character just wanted to get away whereas Crowe's just wants to go back so it's not exactly the same situation.
A lot of people criticize the fact that it's not Crowe's or Ridley Scott's best, and sometimes go to say it's their worst movie ever made. I personally don't see it. Coming into this movie you can't be waiting for something like "The Gladiator" because if that's the case you're in for 2 hours of boredom. So ok, it's not the best movie ever made, but it's not one of the worst either. Personally I'd say it's still above average, and considering some of the movies that have been coming out, it's almost like a little piece of paradise. The movie takes its time getting to where it wants to go, taking the time to take in all the scenery and the people and just the whole charm of the environment we've been put in. The acting is fine. It's not Russell Crowe's best but it's not horrendous either and he's just fine in the role he's playing, even if I had a tough time warming up to the character (but isn't that the point?). I'm a huge fan of Marion Cotillard so i'm biased but I thought she was great in the movie. The rest of the cast does really well too even though the neighbor had a tendency to get on my nerves.

On the whole, I thought it was a good movie, I really enjoyed it. It's a nice break from action and political movies, and there's a couple of times where you can't help but laugh (the reference to Lance Armstrong, for example). It's a movie that takes its time but I wasn't bored once, it still has momentum. But if you weren't a fan of "Under The Tuscan Sun", then beware because you won't be a fan of this one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A New Favorite Movie
I highly recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys a Russell Crowe film. This is my go to movie when traveling. Always cheers me up when away from home.
Published 2 days ago by CaddywumpusCottageChatter
A Good Year
Great feel good movie that men would like too. My husband acctually saw it first and told me to buy it. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Sandy
A Bad Vintage
When you think of a romantic comedy set in Provence, the names Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott do not come to mind - hence this leaden 2006 adaptation of Peter Mayle's novel. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Scott T. Rivers
5 stars for Albert Finney. 2 stars for storyline(s), etc.
Crowe, and others, do an excellent job in this mishmash of odd storytelling, direction and wrong music. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M
Great film, but..
However, this version is pg, and all of the colorful language is replaced with uncomfortable siliences... They even trimmed "wanker". Read more
Published 1 month ago by William Bell
I really wanted to --like---this movie.
Russel Crowe is a good actor who up until movie-selected-good solid scripts. What happened? This moving is boring (even the high powered Wall Street type scenes are dull) and the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. J. Cox
Used but Good !
Loved the movie, will watch it again ,beautifully cast and shot and a great feel -good factor! Made me feel a whole lot better.
Published 2 months ago by Carole Askew
Really enjoyed this movie
My husband and I really enjoyed this movie. I have not read the book yet, but from the director's commentary, the movie is a bit different. Still and enjoyable watch!
Published 3 months ago by Zville Mom
GREAT MOVIE!!
I HAVE WATCHED THIS MOVIE MANY TIMES OVER SIMPLY BECAUSE ITS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE --LIKE A GOOD BOOK U CANT PUT DOWN AND THEN U WANT TO READ IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cameo
A Great Year
This is a highly underrated film. Crowe is his classic self and the romantic setting of the south of France real makes this an excellent film. Quality acting. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. J. Young
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