Review of A Good Year

…..warm, funny, moving in a few parts, engaging, arousing…….. just a few of the words I’d use to describe A Good Year after seeing it for the first time this evening.

Although not in the same class as the heavy-weight dramas that we have been used to seeing Russell in recently, this film nonetheless made for two hours of escapism and pure enjoyment on many levels. I’d thought it would be cool to get the chance to gauge how other folks not so au fait with Russell’s previous movie repertoire, would react to him in this type of role. I had fully intended to listen in to the whispers and comments around me throughout the film and suck in the patron buzz in the theatre, but I confess I fell down on the task and found myself drifting lazily into the film itself and just going with the flow and immersing myself in it. It’s the type of film that does that to you…….

There were quite a few ‘laugh out loud’ moments to be heard throughout though, and the comedy aspect (of a film that is more than just a simple comedy) seemed to go down well with this particular audience. In fact there were actually a couple of occasions when a smattering of applause was to be heard (one of those occasions being when Max fell into the empty pool and another during the tennis match with Duflot.)

The film was certainly a feast for the eyes and ears, in more ways than one! The scenery was of course rich with colour and texture and very beautiful. And Russell himself provided some delightful eye-candy also. To borrow an adjective used several times in the dialogue, and to quote the girlfriend with whom I saw the film, “the man is totally shaggable” in this incarnation. I must agree (porn for women indeed!!)

The soundtrack was very appropriate to the scenes, with one or two quite nostalgic, uplifting songs (we drove home giggling and humming “itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini…..”) And not forgetting the pleasure of savouring RC’s baritone rumble speaking in sexy French tones (particularly at the end of the film…… sigh!)

My one complaint of the evening was that the cinema closed the curtains during the closing credits, which irked me, so I didn’t get a chance to see all of the funny clips again at the end. But I will go see it again, and next time take the time to look more closely at the background of the movie-set etc. from a purely selfish point of view, to see once again the places in and around La Canorgue/ La Siroque that I was privileged to visit last Summer – and I will certainly be buying the DVD.

Not wishing to give too much away about the plot as I know a lot of the US folks reading this will not have seen the film yet, (lucky us in the UK……. for a change!) but as you have probably already twigged, it’s not Machiavellian – but of course it never purports to be. It just seems like it when you read some of the UK critics reviews. I suspect most of these critics have built up the “Russell and Ridley” expectation to the point where they are anticipating a great deal more than the lighthearted, feel good, tale of rejuvenation that this movie is. What a shame to go in to the movie with that attitude and have it spoil the essence of the whole thing. But I have faith that the movie-going public won’t be so short sighted. For the most part Joe Public (and certainly Jean Public!) know what they like and a couple of hours of sanguine, whimsical entertainment can be a tonic for the soul.

Despite the plot being somewhat predictable and a little sparse, there were still one or two scenes that tugged at the heart-strings quite a bit and gave me a lump in my throat. I won’t say which as I don’t want to give spoilers but I will say that Russell has not lost the knack of expressing a lot of emotions through his eyes.

And of course there is the comedy aspect. It was also an amusing and funny film. Not “in your face” funny but subtly funny. Combine that with the sex appeal of most of the lead characters, Russell, Marion Cotillard, Abbie Cornish and even Tom Hollander and I suspect you have a recipe for a successful box office with this cheeky little number.

Bon appetite!

Avril