A Good Year is a 2006 British-American romantic comedy film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. The screenplay was written by Marc Klein and was based on the book ‘A Good Year’ by Peter Mayle.
Rated: PG-13 (movie contains language and some sexual content)
Run Time: 1h 57min
Release Date: November 10, 2006 (USA)
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Director: Ridley Scott
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Budget: $35 Million
Box Office: $42.1 Million
A Good Year stars Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, Marion Cotillard, Abbie Cornish, Freddy Highmore, Tom Hollander, Archie Panjabi, Didier Bourdon, Isabelle Candelier and Kenneth Cranham.
A Good Year is the story Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), a London banker who inherits his Uncles estate in southeastern France. After his parents died in a tragic accident, young Max spent his childhood summer holidays with his Uncle Henry (Albert Finney), learning to appreciate the finer things in life.
25 years later, Max, a successful arrogant workaholic bond trader in London, learns of his uncles passing and that he is the sole beneficiary of the French chateau and vineyard where he spent much of his childhood. He travels to Provence to prepare a quick sale only to learn that the estate needs a lot of work to renovate it to be sold.
With no intention of keeping the estate, he plans to fix up the place cosmetically in a few days and then sell the entire lot. While working on the house he is surprised by the unexpected arrival of Christie Roberts (Abbie Cornish), who is backpacking through Europe and presents herself as Henry’s previously unknown illegitimate daughter looking for her long-lost father. Max fears that she might also lay claim to the estate and tries to keep her happy until she decides to leave.
Meanwhile, Max is also enamored of the very beautiful yet entirely feisty local cafe owner Fanny Chenal (Marion Cotillard), who is rumored to have sworn off men. He successfully woos Fanny, who leaves Max the next morning expecting him to return to his life in London. Christie, having learned that Max intends to betray Henry’s passion, leaves Provence, and Max sells the estate and returns to his life in London. Memories flood and Max immediately regrets betraying his uncle and forges a letter from Henry that states Christie has a valid claim to the property and returns to Provence to pursue a relationship with Fanny.
Movie Quotes
“A man should acknowledge his losses just as gracefully as he celebrates his victories. 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.” – Uncle Henry
“Forgive my lips. They find joy in the most unusual places.” – Max Skinner
“There’s something you should know about me, Max. I’m very, very choosy… I’m also very, very suspicious; very, very irrational, and I have a very, very short temper. I’m also extremely jealous and slow to forgive. Just so you know.” – Fanny Chenal
“My uncle loved women, although no one for a long time, and he never married. He loved England, yet lived in France. He was an adventurer, yet all my memories take place within 100 steps of this spot.” – Max Skinner
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Russell Crowe as Max Skinner
Albert Finney as Uncle Henry
Marion Cotillard as Fanny Chenal
Abbie Cornish as Christie Roberts
Freddy Highmore as Young Max
Tom Hollander as Charlie Willis
Archie Panjabi as Gemma
Didier Bourdon as Francis Duflot
Isabelle Candelier as Ludivine Duflot
Kenneth Cranham as Sir Nigel