TxMike Minnie Driver and her sister were two of the co-producers. It is set in California, a farm that looks like it could be near the wine country. Uncle Cullen (superb Nigel Hawthorne) and two brothers co-own the land and whatever else is on it. Uncle Cullen comes off as more than a bit eccentric, to the constant consternation of one of the brothers, Ross (played smartly by Rufus Sewell). The other brother communes with nature and seems content with going off into the woods to work on the garden.Ross's problem is that he never has been really successful at anything. Well, there was this one thing, apparently a very gifted musician playing the guitar and composing, but he wanted to be a business success, and needed cash to buy an old manganese mine, sure that it would be his big enterprise, and also allow him to win the hand of Kendal (Minnie Driver).As the story begins we see a Mr Tang, buying agent, and Ross examining each of the old bottles of rare wine in the cellar, Ross hoping to sell then for the thousands that will allow him to buy the mine. But, nothing goes as Ross plans.SPOILERS. One morning everyone wakes up to wine everywhere, even in the well water. Turns out that Uncle Cullen has opened each of the wine bottles and poured them out, in effect short-circuiting Ross' plan. The make matters worse, Uncle had delivered a very large while column in the yard, and the bill to Ross was over $126,000. When it was all done, however, it turns out Uncle Cullen was the smartest one, facilitating Ross' getting back to the guitar, the former champion diver to quit looking for perfection, and generally helping all to realize that it is best to live to your strengths and not try to become something you are not.

mark2-1 I saw this on TV a few days ago.While it is a charming film with several good acting performances, it is also a very eccentric film and I suspect that you need to be in the right mood to experience this film.Minnie Driver plays the usual Minnie Driver role (same as in Good Will Hunting and all of her other films) as well as she always does. The late Nigel Hawthorne plays the Mad King George odd ball with the vacant eyes as well as he always did.It takes place in the US (California), but the main characters are all British. I am sure the actors had a very good time in California and enjoyed the producton. It looks like the weather was good during the whole production. Nigel Hawthorne and Minnie Driver and her sister (?) were executive producers.PS I recognize the locality from JAG (the episodes in South America where Sarah is padded to look pregnant) and other TV shows and films. So the owner of this estate must have a lot of movie community friends.

Rui del-Negro This film is a masterpiece of... production design. The sets, the clothes, the lighting, everything is so perfect that it feels like a dream, or possibly a TV ad for really expensive scotch. The direction and editing are irregular at best (and pretty bad at worst). The acting is mostly mediocre (with the exception of Nigel Hawthorne, who is perfect as always), although part of that boils down to the script and the editing. The story is predictable and uninspired.This is one of those movies that you keep hoping will get better, but never does. And it's annoying to see good actors, good sets and a good crew wasted on such a poor story, and then further butchered by senseless editing.

arxantes I just finished watching this film on tv and I want to share my feelings with you.I really enjoyed watching this film, such an excellent romantic comedy. it is the kind of film that transmits you an optimism and a view of life's philosophy that is hard to forget. The character of uncle Cullen (played by an astonishing Nigel Howthorn) is the basis of this film but not the protagonist whom he played the talented Rufus Sewell. I really don't want to say pointless things about the movie but I have to tell you that it was a major surprise for me because I watched it by lack because I had nothing to do at that time. In a few words, very good script, clear and smooth performances and GREAT GREAT music (especially the guitar sequence)