I saw the free screening of "A Good Year" last night at Greenwich Odeon, Greenwich Council calls it the Greenwich Peninsula and all the new flats that have been built are on the oh so trendy Millennium Way.  I call it the former industrial wasteland that was the south bank docklands, and whilst admittedly the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery looks quite amazing after dark - like something out of "Blade Runner" appropriately enough - the area really has not improved.  No trees anywhere. 

 

The nearest station is North Greenwich, four stops on the Jubilee Line from London Bridge but typically of South London no direct connections to anywhere south of the river.

 

Anyhow, I got to the Odeon at about 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.  The cinema is undergoing rebuilding works so there were contractor's plastic screens everywhere and of course that early in the evening there weren't many people around.  Took a quick look at the confectionery stand and decided that some other sucker could pay the eye-watering prices; there was not much to do in the foyer so I went up to Screen 1.  60s soul music playing in the background, the Supremes singing "Set Me Free".

 

There was a determined bag search by the security officer and anyone who had a mobile that could record or take pictures had to hand it over in return for a ticket, to be redeemed afterwards.  One verging on elderly gent had to do this, much to his wife's amusement as she said he didn't know how it worked anyway!

 

By about 6.20ish the auditorium was about a third to a half full, as I said it was early and the weather was fairly grim last night.  Bang on 6.30 the film began, no adverts, everyone was very pleased.

 

Partiality for Russell notwithstanding I loved the film, it made me laugh and the photography was amazing.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes shot in the City because I work there, and the portrayal of the City traders was spot on.  Anyone who wants an idea of how 'Max' would behave on the trading floor should read the 'Alex' cartoon in the Daily Telegraph.  Russell's characterization was excellent.  His transformation from the trader to sharp cynical trader to the real Max is so subtle that it actually took me a little while to realise his appearance had changed, and then his demeanour and finally his voice. 

 

Ashley Panjabi is hilarious as Jemma/Jaswinder and Rafe Spall gives a nice turn as Kenny/'ALF', and Tom Hollander is excellent as Charlie.  I was not so convinced by Abbie Cornish as Christie, she seemed too laid back for someone who was searching for her father - and not nearly upset enough to discover that she had missed him by a month.  Albert Finney was brilliant as Henry, just the sort of ageing disgracefully uncle that any right-minded person would want.

 

I liked Max's relationship with Fanny - so nice to see a man making the effort to appeal to a woman's brain for a change, not just trying to rush her into the nearest bed.  The scene where Max fills in as a waiter at Fanny's bistro is great, it made me smile to hear Max calling her 'love' and she being totally oblivious that he meant it.  I loved the fact that he waited outside for her after closing with a bottle of wine and glasses - it wold make my day if a man was willing to go to all that trouble for me, so romantic!  Ridley was right to have her say no, I was disappointed but it would have been a cliché. 

 

The Anglo-French rivalry between Max and Francis was great, though that my mother who lives in France raves about how helpful everyone is.

 

I'm trying not to fill this with spoilers so I'll finish here.  Tell all your friends to see the film.

 

Best regards

 

Amélie