A Good Experience

Picture a beautiful French countryside with sunlight streaming over dew glazed meadows, vineyards and vined trees clothing the soil, birds and beauty and solace. Now contrast that with the yelling, screaming, mind-grinding atmosphere of the world of bond dealers. See the big wins and the big losers all colliding in an environment of sheer adrenalin. If you had to chose between them, which life would you pick?

“A Good Year” expresses a pivotal year in Max Skinners life. As a ruthless bond dealer he is arrogant , self-centered and rarely if ever remembers his steady roots in France where his uncle had raised him as a boy. Then one day he receives news that his uncle has passed on and that the chateau he grew up in is now his. Only interested in the monetary value of the property, Max travels to Provence to sell the estate.

While encountering complications with the sale of the property Max begins to recall fond memories of his childhood and becomes reaquinted with a childhood sweetheart (Marion Cotillard does a terrific job). As memories unfold, Max meets an illegitimate sister (played by Abbie Cornish) who is claiming a right to the property. Through a series of events Skinner begins to realize the importance of friends, family and simplicity of living. His hectic city life starts to fall away and Max becomes a genuine individual.

Russell Crowe, although disliked by many critics, plays the cocky, self-induced bond trader as smoothly as he usually fills his roles. I feel Crowe has the ability to change characters from one movie to the next without letting you think it's just Russell Crowe. He seems to bring his characters to life, and not just himself.

The humor throughout the movie is somewhat wooden, but the film does bring out the message it's trying too and unfolds in a believable way. The photography, as you could expect, is magnificent and sets the mood of the film astoundingly well.