After collecting Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor,Gladiatorproved thatdirector Ridley Scott and leading man Russell Crowewere a formidable partnership – and yet, despite this success, the pair’s follow-up project was almost the polar opposite of the historical epic in every conceivable way. Having won critical acclaim and triumphed at the box office – in addition to receiving multiple awards –Gladiatorseemed to indicate a clear path forward for any future Scott/Crowe collaborations. This makes what happened in 2006 seem even more difficult to explain.
For both Scott and Crowe,Gladiatorcame in the middle of a purple patch.Crowe had burst onto the scene with his stand-out performance inL.A. Confidentialand followedGladiatorup with critical hits likeA Beautiful Mind,Master and Commander, andCinderella Man. While Scott’s record is more mixed,Gladiatorpresaged the likes ofBlack Hawk DownandMatchstick Men– both of which augmented his legendary reputation. In both men’s careers, there was an emphasis on weighty stories with emotional heft and cultural impact. Surprisingly, this went out the window with their 2006 team-up,A Good Year.
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A Good Year Was Scott & Crowe’s Disappointing Gladiator Follow-Up
It Failed Everywhere That Gladiator Succeeded
Given thatGladiatorsucceeded thanks to the epic scope of its story, the impressive spectacle of the Colosseum, andRussell Crowe’s grimly commanding performance as Maximus, you could be forgiven for thinking that Scott and Crowe’s next movie would try and repeat the formula. And yet, in an apparent bid to prove their range and flexibility, the couple decided to come together again for the ill-judged romantic comedy,A Good Year. Needless to say, it did not work out as they’d hoped.
The movie sees Crowe cast as a stockbroker in London who becomes caught up in legal issues after inheriting a French property. Despite looking for a hasty sale, he slowly becomes enamored with the local people and wine, beginning to get a new perspective on life. Narratively,it is about as far removed fromGladiatoras it is possible to get.
$103 million
$465.4 million
80%
$35 million
$42 million
26%
WhileGladiatormade over $460 million worldwide and secured five Oscars,A Good Yearwas panned by critics and bombed at the box office. Against a budget of $35 million, the movie made just $42 million –a reported loss of $20 million for the studio(viaVariety). To add insult to injury, just 26% of critics gave the film a good review, highlighting a litany of issues from casting to script.
Why A Good Year Was Such A Disappointment
There Were Several Flaws With The Project
Although it was very different fromGladiator, it wasn’t immediately obvious thatA Good Yearwould be such a disaster. Both Crowe and Scott had proven their movie pedigree several times over. Even withoutGladiator, their track record would suggest that they’d be more than capable of making the story work. However,A Good Year’s failure speaks to a surprising truth of the movie industry– namely, that not every talent is suited to every project.
It’s telling that, in the 18 years since, neither Crowe nor Scott have delved back into rom-com territory, proving that their skills lie elsewhere.
As the movie’sRotten Tomatoescritical consensus explains, “A Good Year is a fine example of a top-notch director and actor out of their elements, in a sappy romantic comedy lacking in charm and humor.” This damning indictment demonstrates thatthe movie’s tone and content were a long way removed from Crowe and Scott’s strengths. It’s telling that, in the 18 years since, neither Crowe nor Scott have delved back into rom-com territory, proving that their skills lie elsewhere. Despite the subgenre sometimes being dismissed,A Good Year’s difficulties prove that making rom-coms can be just as hard as action epics.
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Scott & Crowe Have Since Redeemed Themselves (Though Haven’t Matched Gladiator)
They Have Worked Together Since
AlthoughA Good Yearwas Scott and Crowe’s immediateGladiatorfollow-up, it was not the last time that the director and actor would team up. The year after their $42 million box office bomb,the pair found redemption with the Oscar-nominatedAmerican Gangster– a crime biopic also starring Denzel Washington. This was followed by further projectsBody of LiesandRobin Hood, highlighting how, despite their previous failure, the duo still shared a creative spark.
These later projects – particularlyAmerican Gangster– mitigated much of the reputational damage ofA Good Year. However, it’s also fair to say thatGladiatorremains the high point of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe collaborations. Critically, as well as financially, it is easily the pair’s most successful team-up, coming at a time when both men were arguably at the peak of their powers.A Good Yearmay have been the nadir, but Scott and Crowe have yet to return to their 2000 heyday.
