Um Ano Especial

Um filme pequeno e modesto, mas um dos melhores da filmografia de Ridley Scott quanto ao cumprimento dos seus objetivos. Não há nada a criticar em Um Ano Especial. Embora não enfeite nada, é agradável e positivo, capitaliza o potencial de atuação e carisma de Russell Crowe a 100%, e a poesia do cenário (filtros de câmara, música) é unicamente complementar à história íntima. Além disso, o humor sensível e inteligente. (17/01/2007)

Movies about reevaluating one's current life, finding the right place to exist, and true friends have always had their doors open for me, and when Ridley Scott directs his personal emotional masterpiece and Russel Crowe plays his wanderings in Provence with feelings like never before, it's decided. A human and heartwarming success in the truest sense of the word. (01/03/2007)

Except for a few camera flights and typically chosen filters, it is not apparent that this little piece was directed by visual wizard Ridley Scott. What is even more surprising is that no matter what we focus on, everything in this film works fantastically. Scott delivers an easygoing, light, and incredibly charming escapade that will please not only lovers of the French countryside, warm summer evenings, candlelit dinners, or devoted winemakers. It’s a simple story with a worn-out message, but it’s presented with such a dose of nostalgia, naturalness, and lightness that it's hard to believe. It really works even without lavish visuals. The dialogues are excellent and many scenes are literally like a fairy tale, aided by the beautiful and meticulously crafted setting. Scott pays attention to every little detail, especially when it comes to the background (for example, the scene with Russel Crowe sitting by the pool reading a letter, with light fluff and dust swirling around him). Truly a heartfelt film, flawless as an escapade. Sufficiently light and playful for entertainment, yet also sufficiently intelligent and passionate not to offend with its simplicity. (12/10/2006)

The most undrinkable wine in Provence, a sharpened relationship between the English and the French, cinematic "frames" that could be framed instantly, all the genre clichés piled so high it's enjoyable, sympathetic banter, a nice pace, a reformed cynic and the blue eyes of one of the most beautiful angels France has right now. Ridley Scott is a true English gentleman... (24/09/2008)

I didn’t expect that A Good Year would captivate me so. I’m not too keen on wine and Russell Crowe (despite being an outstanding actor) isn’t one of my favorites. Nevertheless, it happened. Probably it was the allure of charming France, beautiful women and beautiful landscapes. Provence is just enchanting. And Ridley Scott takes advantage of it. Memories of childhood and nostalgia are almost tangible in every shot. In my opinion, collaboration between Ridley and Russell worked out even better than in Gladiator. (15/09/2007)