...And 5 That Sucked
5. Max Skinner - A Good Year
During one of Ridley Scott's post-Gladiator slumps, it's clear that he and Russell Crowe really just fancied the idea of going to Italy, having a fun holiday and shooting a breezy, mediocre movie. The result? A Good Year, a well-intentioned but overly quaint, fluffy film about a British investment broker (Crowe) who, after inheriting some fancy property, decides that he quite enjoys the more lackadaisical lifestyle therein. It's odd material for Scott to take, and not much more ordinary for Crowe either, and as a result it's not too surprising that the film doesn't really work; Max's relaxed mode unfortunately transpires directly into the script and direction, both of which are dull and completely lacking the narrative froth that Crowe is used to having to work with. As a result, his performance suffers; the worst that can be said about it is that it's simply totally forgettable, and goes to suggest that Crowe should steer clear of lighter fare like this.