Hors de prix (2006)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Pierre Salvadori

Writers:

Benoît Graffin (writer)
John Kaylin (adaptation)

Release Date:

13 December 2006 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She only dated men with money...until she met a man with a heart

Plot:

Through a set of wacky circumstances, a young gold digger mistakenly woos a mild-mannered bartender thinking he's a wealthy suitor.

Plot Keywords:

Gold Digger | Bartender | Female Nudity | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Audrey Tautou	...	Irène
Gad Elmaleh	...	Jean
Marie-Christine Adam	...	Madeleine
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Jacques
Jacques Spiesser	...	Gilles
Annelise Hesme	...	Agnès
Charlotte Vermeil	...	La dame au chihuahua
Claudine Baschet	...	La dame au dogue
Laurent Claret	...	Le responsable du bar à Biarritz
Jean de Coninck	...	Le client au cigare
Blandine Pélissier	...	La femme de chambre
Philippe Vendan-Borin	...	Le serveur au restaurant à Biarritz
Bernard Bourdeau	...	Le collègue de Jean à Biarritz
Didier Brice	...	François
Laurent Mouton	...	Le serveur au café François

Also Known As:

Priceless (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including nudity.; Rated R for some language. (special edition)

Runtime:

104 min | Turkey:92 min (TV version)

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-3 | Portugal:M/12 | Ireland:12A | Argentina:13 | Sweden:7 | USA:PG-13 | South Korea:15 | USA:R (special edition) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

France 2 Cinéma

Trivia:

During a French TV Show ,the actress and singer Marie Laforet, announced her participation to the film, though finally she did not appear on the movie

Quotes:

Jean: Referring to the expensive watch Madeleine has bought for him: "That's not a watch. It's a treasure chest."

Soundtrack:

Amour Délices et Contrebasse

A Nutshell Review: Priceless

Transportation S$3.00 Movie Ticket S$9.00 Fried Chicken S$3.80 A Good Movie That Entertains? Priceless.

Directed by Pierre Salvadori, Pricess is one heck of a delightful gem. It is playful, cheeky, and boasts excellent chemistry between its leads, which is crucial to pull off a romantic comedy so dependent on their banter and interaction.

Audrey Tautou plays Irene, a high maintenance gold digging prostitute who flits from one elderly man to another, in the hopes of seducing and convincing them into marriage, while in the meantime milking all she could from their company. It's haute fashion label dropping, living the high life in expensive hotel suites, for free. In an uncontrollable one night stand, she hooks up with waiter Jean (Gad Elmaleh), who while is totally out of her league, falls hard for her, and becomes a constant thorn in her side as she goes about her mission in life.

Not your usual romance movie where the bickering couple are expected to kiss, make up, and bicker some more, Priceless does two things in its narrative. One, in its reminder to the male suckers out there to be wary of high maintenance women - if you don't have what it takes (and that simply means a really fat bankroll), forget about it, as she'll drain your finances as simply as it takes to gulp down a glass of water. Two, perhaps it really does pay for those who are kept men and women, if they don't mind trading their bodies for material pleasures that a rich life can offer.

And from adversaries to partners in crime, Priceless sprinkles its narrative with scenes like from The Guru, where tips and tricks of the trade are shared, and played for laughs. And this is especially so with Jean's natural charms mixed with Mr Bean like demeanor. Kudos actually to actor Gad Elmaleh, who throws this constant innocent blank look, when he's hamming it up pretending to be loaded, or practising turning on his charms (consciously or otherwise). He brings to Jean a sense of helplessness in falling for the woman of his dreams much against his finances, and gives Jean that chivalrous character that will surely win many over.

Fans of Audrey Tautou will reminisce her portrayal as Irene to be similar to the quirky Amelie, only that this time round, she's the complete slut whom you pity for having such a materialistic nature. Her plunging necklines all the way down to the navel will no doubt raise temperatures, and while noticeably older, has brought about a sense of maturity from giggling girl to all woman.

Peppered with an excellent soundtrack, the best songs were kept for a party scene, and for as many party scenes featured in various movies, I'd rate this one as one of the most interesting, thanks to the key music, characters, and the scene that plays out just right. With so many elements working in its favour, I'd rate this as a contender for the top movies of this year. Don't let this movie slip pass you in this crowded blockbuster summer!