Film Review - The Best Offer - Geoffrey Rush

Geoffrey Rush in The Best Offer

The Best Offer was written and directed by Italian film director, Giuseppe Tornatore, better known for his acclaimed award-winning film Cinema Paradiso. The film follows combined themes of love and deceit, is set in Europe (and filmed in various locations Trieste, Bolzano, Fidenza, Rome, Milan, Merano, Vienna, Prague) and centred on the world of high-end art auctions and antiques. The central character is Virgil Oldman (Geoffrey Rush), an elderly, esteemed, but somewhat eccentric principal of an auction house bearing his name. Oldman operates as both valuer and auctioneer for his clients but his poise, prestige and undoubted expertise is counterpointed by an ongoing bidding scam whereby his friend Billy Whistler (Donald Sutherland) operates as an undisclosed related bidder  in auctions to enable Oldman to acquire a secret private collection of master paintings - for a fraction of their actual value.

 

Virgil is contacted and then hired by a reclusive young heiress, Claire Ibbetson (Sylvia Hoeks), to value and auction off the large collection of art and antiques left to her by her deceased parents. Claire consistently refuses to be seen in person but communicates only by phone and often fails to appear even when agreed with the auctioneer. Oldman also has another associate being a young artificer and 'fixer', Robert (Jim Sturgess), who aids him by restoring objects and devices he acquires by whatever means. A particular project involves reassembling a robotic device Virgil carefully acquires piece-by-piece from Claire's property. Virgil also seeks Robert's advice on how to befriend her, and how to deal with his evolving feelings towards her.

 

The film has a number of cliches but the storyline does provide the ultimate twist when the scam or 'sting' is revealed. A few clues are given so the audience is able to deduce that all is not as it seems.  It is the performance of Geoffrey Rush however which forms the foundation and strength of the plot line and ultimately the entire film.