The Best Offer
A sophisticated psychological thriller where an ivory-tower art auctioneer is seduced by a reclusive heiress, trading his meticulously curated isolation for a hauntingly beautiful, yet potentially catastrophic, emotional masterpiece.
The Best Offer
The Best Offer

La migliore offerta

"A master of possession. A crime of obsession."

01 January 2013 Italy 131 min ⭐ 7.8 (2,972)
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore
Cast: Geoffrey Rush, Jim Sturgess, Sylvia Hoeks, Donald Sutherland, Maximilian Dirr
Drama Crime Romance
The Duality of Authenticity and Forgery Isolation and Human Connection Obsession and Voyeurism Betrayal and Revenge
Budget: $13,500,000
Box Office: $19,255,873

The Best Offer - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

There's always something authentic concealed in every forgery.

— Virgil Oldman

Context:

Virgil explains his philosophy on art, which later becomes the thin reed of hope he clings to at the end.

Meaning:

The film's central thesis. It suggests that a forger cannot help but put their own soul into their work, which mirrors how even in a fake relationship, real emotions might leak through.

Human emotions are like works of art. They can be forged. They seem just like the original, but they are a forgery.

— Billy Whistler

Context:

Billy speaks to Virgil early in the film, foreshadowing the betrayal that Virgil is too blind to see.

Meaning:

A direct warning to Virgil and a statement of Billy's cynical worldview. It highlights the theme of emotional manipulation.

What's it like living with a woman? Like taking part in an auction sale. You never know if yours will be the best offer.

— Lambert

Context:

An exchange between Virgil and his assistant, reflecting Virgil's total lack of experience with women.

Meaning:

Links the film's title to its romantic themes, suggesting that love is a competitive and uncertain market where value is relative.