By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Starring: Dermot Crowley | Donald Sutherland | Geoffrey Rush | Jim Sturgess | Kiruna Stamell | Sylvia Hoeks
Original language title: La Migliore Offerta
Country: italy
Year: 2014
Running time: 131
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1924396/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Bruce says: “Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush) is a preeminent expert in antiquities. He authenticates, appraises and auctions only the finest works of art. A confirmed bachelor, Oldman is a virgin who could easily be classified as a fetishist. He has a secret vault which is his own private museum, a gallery of portraits of women. Oldman doesn’t buy these portraits on his own – he has a shill, Billy Whistler (Donald Sutherland), who places the winning bid on any portrait Oldman wants to add to his collection.
”When he is summoned to appraise the estate of reclusive heiress Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks), Oldman falls under her spell although he never sees her in person. They talk to one another, a wall separating them. One of the artifacts lying about the vast villa is a set of gears, partially rusted. Oldman enlists the help of Robert, a local man in the antique trade, one who can repair almost anything. Robert thinks they are part of a larger piece, perhaps an antique automaton. Oldman combs the villa to find the missing part with the help of custodian Lambert (Dermot Crowley).
“Oldman finds himself falling in love with Claire. Secretly, he hides behind a large sculpture to spy on her when she thinks he has departed. He seeks advice from Robert who is notoriously facile in dealing with the opposite sex. Oldman begins to court her, finally coaxing her out in the open. Step by step he helps Claire re-enter the world outside that she has left behind. His long desired wish for physical contact is completely fulfilled.
“Tornatore (CINEMA PARADISO, MALÈNA) is a master at pacing a film and creating a singular mood befitting the story he is telling. In THE BEST OFFER, his creative efforts are equally successful for the effete world of the auctioneer and for the foreboding and mysterious domain of the villa. The production design is superb and the casting is excellent. The Morricone score complements the subject matter. Geoffrey Rush perfectly embodies the type of decadence found among denizens of the fine art circuit. The film is a thriller of sorts and the viewer is tipped off to the deceit long before the protagonist, who chooses to
rationalize the most obvious of clues. Being tipped off, however, is not the same as knowing all the details. Not everyone will agree, but I found the characterization of a certain type of early 21st century man much better here than in the much lauded THE GREAT BEAUTY. The manifestations are quite the opposite but the underpinnings are the same. 4 cats”