DVD: Priceless

I cannot say that I've seen a vast array of Audrey Tautou films, but I can say that of the several I've seen, not one has failed to wow me any less than significantly. Priceless is no exception.

Tautou costars with Gad Elmaleh, a man I know only from previews. After having seen this movie, however, I wish I had seen more of his films. Together, the two create electric chemistry that leaps from the screen. The result is an incredibly sweet and very hilarious love story.

Tautou plays Irene, a gold-digging woman who lives off of sugar daddy boyfriends she seduces on the French Riviera. Elmaleh plays Jean, a service employee at the hotels on the Riviera working multiple jobs just to survive. After a night of lucky mistaken identity, Jean ends up sleeping with Irene. One year later, he gets lucky, literally and figuratively, again, but this time Irene's boyfriend/fiancee/sugar daddy finds out and dumps her, sending her back out to play rich men for room, board, and designer clothing and accessories. Jean, meanwhile, finds his own sugar mama, and Irene teaches Jean the art of milking the circumstance as the two have their own attachment and romance grow in the meantime.

I can't recall the last time I've seen a lead male character that was so incredibly likable. He was awkwardly charming, and it helped with the plausibility of Irene's falling for him. As for Tautou, she was gorgeous, as always, and wonderful, as always. She plays her character brilliantly, and her development from cold pseudo-prostitute to sweet realist was perfectly realized. And together, every moment between them felt genuine, and the story is so satisfyingly sweet. At times I literally raised my arms to cheer in silent celebration.

Priceless is not perfect, but it is damn close. I am hardly ever impressed by a movie this much, and I cant recommend it heartily enough. Watch this movie; you will not regret it.

Oh, and it's in French with English subtitles, but if that turns you off to the movie, you've missed out on even greater films than this and you are a horrible person. Is reading really such a challenge? Open your minds people! There's great art out there if you're willing to use your brain a little!

If you don't mind subtitles, disregard the above statement, and see this film!

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Special Features:

None.