Review of Priceless (2006) by Angela W — 09 Feb 2009

Audrey Hepburn, from the moment the camera catches her in Breakfast at Tiffany?s, exudes charm. Oozes it. Nevermind that she sniffs out money for a living. When she says to George Peppard, ?I?ll tell you one thing, Fred, darling, I?d marry you for your money in a minute,? we wish our name was Fred and we wish we were moneyed. And this is the beauty of Breakfast at Tiffany?s: a materialistic, selfish woman melts us to mush. Hepburn made the romantic comedy high art. How did she do that?

Audrey Hepburn was the most charming woman to grace the screen until the date of her death in 1993. It didn?t take very long for another to claim the mantle. Another Audrey, Audrey Tautou came along in Amélie and gave hope to the romantic comedy. It is no surprise, therefore, that Tautou stars in Priceless, a near remake of Breakfast at Tiffany?s.

Tautou slinks into the elevator, down to the bar, and lights herself a cigarette in a dress that clings. She?s stunning. Beyond beautiful. That?s how she makes her entrance in Priceless. When she throws a peanut at Jean (Gad Elmaleh) and whispers ?Good evening,? we are just as caught by her as he is. We have to be because Irene (Tautou) slowly stacks up contempt against herself.

Irene mistakes Jean for a man of means and leaves him when she realizes her mistake. She?s not angry at him for leading her on, merely inconvenienced; however, when she can?t rebound to another millionaire, she becomes out of sorts. Jean hopelessly tries to tell her he loves her, but she is heartless. She bleeds Jean dry even as he tries desperately to win her affection and leaves him when he has nothing left. As she turns to leave, Jean hands her his last euro and asks for ten more seconds. She obliges then walks away. If it was anyone but Audrey Tatou, we would hate her guts. In a bit of chance, Jean (who is now penniless) falls in with a wealthy widow and becomes the male counterpart to Irene. (See the Breakfast at Tiffany?s set-up now?).

The rest of the movie leaves no doubt that Jean and Irene will end up together because this is a romantic comedy. The way they arrive there is important. Director Pierre Salvadori must be credited with precision. A problem with the majority of romantic comedies currently released resides with their impatience. Characters must fall in love, fall out of love, fall back in love, have a crisis in commitment, and make up in ninety minutes. It strains believability. Not only that, but directors are afraid to let a scene unfold slowly, fearing a lapse in the audiences attention.

The scene in which Jean and Irene meet, the one by the bar, the one in which Irene mistakes Jean for wealthy, unfolds slowly. Jean is a bartender, in fact. As he fumbles to find something to say to Irene, he humorously asks to make her a drink. She wonders won?t someone from the hotel staff object? (She doesn't realize he's the bartender.) Jean says he?ll say he works for the hotel ? which, of course, he does. The camera allows him to make the whole drink, bit by bit. He makes a cocktail lovingly for her. Irene eyes him, impressed. It?s incredibly romantic. We understand why Jean follows her around for the rest of the movie.

The other piece of the puzzle that must fall into place is Irene?s realization that Jean is not just a good man but a man she loves. Because this is a smart romantic comedy, it happens throughout the entire movie. There?s the scene in which Tautou fakes being asleep. Jean slides in beside her. Moments later she rolls to him. Too proud to admit she?s awake. Or later when she is clearly jealous that Jean is seeing another woman. Glances, pauses, turns give her away. If only she would just give up the money and go to him!

When the inevitable conclusion arrives, Irene says to Jean, ?I want to? I?d like to?,? and she sidles up next to him and completes, ?kiss you.? And she does. It?s as exciting as though it were unexpected ? because the woman is Audrey Tautou, and didn?t you know, she?s the screen?s most charming woman.