Skip to main content
In writer-director Giuseppe Tornatore's The Best Offer,
an uptight art collector and auctioneer named Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey
Rush) follows a windy path of unintended self-destruction. He's a lonely
man who has devoted his entire life to the beauty of art at the expense
of real friendship, and his downfall begins when he receives a phone
call from a mysterious stranger with a sultry voice who requests
evaluation of her estate. Played by Sylvia Hoeks, Claire is a reclusive
heiress, and it takes some deception on Oldman's part to catch even a
glimpse of her. The events that follow, including a May-December romance
between Claire and Oldman, are laced with seduction and mystery. "Human
emotions are like works of art," says Oldman's shady accomplice (Donald
Sutherland). "They can be forged." But while Oldman is a professional
at sniffing out fake works of art, he's not so skilled when it comes to
appraising people's motives. The film is visually lavish, set mostly in a
neglected mansion filled with paintings and sculptures by old masters.
Grounded by emotionally convincing performances, The Best Offer is a compelling mystery brimming with clues that simultaneously perplex and enlighten.
Critic's Grade: B+
SEE IT: The Best Offer is rated R. It opens Friday at Living Room Theaters.
WWeek 2015