User Reviews

From the director of Malèna, Giuseppe Tornatore brings us a film that’s essentially Malèna with the roles reversed—at least when it comes to the romantic duo. The Best Offer is clever and shrewd, but I struggle to accept the protagonist, truth be **** story follows eccentric auctioneer Virgil Oldman, a brilliant and influential art historian with a touch of charlatanism and a flair for mannerisms. Beneath his polished façade lies a sad truth: Virgil is a lonely man. After being hired to appraise and auction the estate of Claire Ibbetson, a newly minted heiress, Virgil finds himself spiraling into an increasingly difficult situation—his growing infatuation with the mysterious Claire, who, for reasons unknown, never appears in **** Best Offer moves slowly, its central premise being the gradual development of Virgil and Claire’s relationship until the inevitable, and yes, predictable, final reveal. A secondary plot tries to spice things up: the late Mr. Ibbetson apparently owned a remarkable mechanical piece, which Virgil and his hired assistant Robert attempt to reconstruct, piece by **** of this would have landed far better for me if not for one glaring issue: Virgil is clearly somewhere between 65 and 75 years old, while Claire is under 30. Just like in Malèna, where the romantic tension plays out between a woman in her 30s and a boy of about 14, Tornatore once again toys with a Lolita-esque theme that, frankly, I find distasteful. Had the protagonist been in his 40s, I’d say the romance would’ve been far more palatable.Narratively speaking, setting aside that mathematical mismatch, The Best Offer delivers an intriguing plot and, by the end, a clever one. The conclusion is well-crafted and emotionally resonant. If you can overlook the unsettling grandfather-granddaughter dynamic, you’ll find a film that’s sharp and perceptive.

it has good moments and intriguing scenes however i think its stretch out, this movie could easily be 1:30hr and I'll probably would give it 7/10 if It was.nonetheless worth giving it a try

While the film is visually exquisite, gorgeous, and artfully crafted, from a suspense perspective, the script and details may not withstand scrutiny and reflection. The noticeable disjointedness makes it challenging to truly embrace this artistic creation.

I am not a connoisseur of Italian cinema, but I was attracted to this film because it deals with works of art. And I am glad that I dedicated my time to it, as I discovered a truly remarkable film. The story centers on the figure of Virgil Oldman, auctioneer and collector, misanthropic and maniac who, suddenly, is contacted by a mysterious heiress, eager to evaluate and eventually auction off all the valuable stuff in his family home. It turns out that she suffers from a severe agoraphobia, so she never leaves the house nor lets herself be seen by anyone, a fact that leaves Oldman more and more fascinated. At the same time, the old auctioneer finds a series of mechanical pieces in the house, which he thinks belong to a disappeared baroque automaton that, if recovered, would have an absurdly high value. Everything seems clear and transparent in this film, brilliantly directed by Giuseppe Tornatore... but the film dextrously hides its secrets and is not as predictable as it seems, although it is left to guess, as the end approaches. For the puritans, it may shock thanks to the **** and obsessive passion allowed by the old man for a woman of age to be his daughter, or even granddaughter. But the fact is that Italian filmmakers address this type of passion quite a lot in their films and the story works wonderfully. In the background, there is a sub-plot involving a baroque automaton and the lack of scruples of an art collector, who is interested in buying valuable works at prices well below the value. Geoffrey Rush is a veteran actor and excels in the role of the auctioneer. He knows how to be cool and aloof, arrogant and elegantly hieratic, and manages to gradually deconstruct it as the character's feelings change. It is worth watching this film to see the extraordinary work of this actor. Beside him, the young Sylvia Hoeks, whom I did not know and is excellent, in a complex role that requires a lot of voice work (she does not appear for a considerable time, and we only heard her voice) and a beautiful face. In the dim light, the equally hardened Donald Sutherland is impeccable in a supporting role. Jim Sturgess also does a remarkable job. Technically, it is an equally very good film. Although it is discreet, and allows the history and work of the actors to have space to stand out, the interest in production values is high, starting with a magnificent cinematography, guided by Flavio Zamarion. With an artist's eye, he knew how to make the most of the beauty of the paintings and works of art, as well as the grandeur of the scenery, the filming locations, the landscapes, and create a film where visual beauty abounds and fills the eye. Light and color also work very well, giving the film an additional elegance. The choice of filming locations and works of art that were used in the film was, in a word, judicious, and the soundtrack, signed by master Ennio Morricone, is truly one of the best he has composed in recent times.

A complete con;not by the film plot but by the director. So predicable from the outset. If you watched this and thought it was in any way mysterious, I feel sorry for you. My son and I could see right through it from the direction to the plot ending- a complete waste of our time and good acting, apart from Jim Sturgess, who was just awful and gave the whole plot away from the beginning.

Frankly, I don't understand the many negative ratings from critics! Goeffrey, Goeffrey ... great as ever. Interpretation that deserved an Oscar nomination. The soundtrack of the great Maestro Ennio Morricone is wonderful and keeps the viewer in tension. The script has some flaws but it makes a noteworthy film. How to say it without spolier? A successful device! The "philosophical" interpretation of the true and the false that lies within it is truly beautiful. Rating: it would have been 8.5 but it is not possible to give half evaluations so 8. I repeat: in every film Goeffrey Rush proves to be, if not the best, one of the best actors on the world scene.

Supongo que a pocos les gustó el final; pero si estás dispuesto a dejarte llevar, esta película es un pequeño reloj muy bien aceitado que sólo podemos apreciar cuando tenemos todas las piezas.

Are ready to change yourself when you think you found your match! Written and directed by one of the famous Italian filmmaker, Giuseppe Tornatore. An English language film, Geoffrey Rush in the lead. It was about an aging art and antique auctioneer, Virgil. The story reveals his final days in his professional field where he meets a young woman who pursued him for her inherited antiques to put on auction. The woman is very mysterious, because of her medical condition and how they both become so close despite their initial meetings were disastrous is the remaining film to tell us with a twist in the final. It was an awesome storytelling. The screenplay was the top notch and the matching background score. Especially when the story ends and credits rolls up, all those memories from the film keeps us fresh with that music. The music won several awards for the film. I liked the story, but towards the end, I kind of predicted almost everything. That did not stop me, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. Particularly the theme of the film, which I think a bit fresh, and I liked the conclusion as well, but I feel it should have been different or more to it. The way it ended might disappoint some people, but still it is very smart. Everybody was good, but it was Geoffrey Rush, who stole the show with his stellar performance. Three years might be a little late, but it's never too late to watch a fine film like this. One of the best suspense films from the recent time, it is a must see, particularly if you are seeking a good entertainment. So I hope you watch it if you're not yet. 8/10

What a treat. This movie, though utterly predictable, was lovely in every way. It's a tour de force for Geoffrey Rush & the supporting cast is excellent. You know what's coming but it's so enjoyable going on the ride, it doesn't matter.

Geoffrey Rush is excellent in portraying an eccentric art expert and auctioneer in The Best Offer. The filming is good and because of Rush's personna and fine acting it holds the viewer's interest up to a point. The story line becomes preposterous quite early in the film and the twist at the dénouement makes the film totally unbelievable. It is a real let-down to realize how one has been led down the garden path to a totally incredible ending.

It starts as an interesting story but it becomes more and more dull as it advances. It is just a very naive , long , slow and awfully predictable film.

The plot could have been interesting, but the realisation of the twist is very easily predictable - I found Sturgess's performance better than Rush's or Sutherland's, the former because of lack of passion and the latter merely for the tiny screentime. Not many particular directorial choices as one would expect from Tornatore, but the visual style is refined and meticulously prepared. Not much of a thriller in the literal meaning of the term, but all in all not a horrible film.

One of the best drama movies I ever saw. Clever, unique, unusual plot. I hold my breath from the beginning till the end. Take your girlfriend, shut down the light, and enjoy this masterpiece.

A mystery film, and what it about mystery films: their plots seem contrived, more obvious like their slips are showing. There were about three or four parallel plot threads that keep the story rolling along Still, the story was interesting enough. It had some nice sets and scenery (Italy, Prague and Vienna), and it's a vicarious thrill to see how the rich really live. Ditto for the profession of a auctioneer. The film is nicely carried by Geoffrey Rush, who with Donald Sutherland in the film you don't get better first rate actors than these. The other younger players do a fine job. I found the musical score a bit heavy handed as well.