In the bonus track on the DVD of "Priceless," we learn that a vocal group called King & Country was inspired to make a film that raises consciousness about human trafficking. The vocalist Joel Smallbone played the leading role, and Joel's brother Ben served as director. While there were good intentions, this film product of a family enterprise never quite jelled into smooth work of cinema.
Joel Smallbone plays the widower named James, who has recently lost custody of his small daughter. Down on his luck, he takes a risky job in driving a truck non-stop through the American southwest. Once James realizes that he is transporting two young Mexican women, he is very slow to catch on that he is engaging in an act of human trafficking. When he comes to that realization too late, he then spends most of the film in attempting to rescue them.
For most of the film, "Priceless" is clearly an action film seeking raise awareness about an important social ill. But in the final segment, the film shifts gears into a Christian-oriented message. The key dramatic symbol is a necklace worn by one of the young Mexican women that is referred to as "God's shot." Holding that necklace, James comes to see that he is awaiting a divinely inspired moment to rescue the two women. The film closes with James now helping to run a Christian "safe house" for female victims of human trafficking.
Sadly, the film does not hold together. Still, there were good performances from Smallbone, who was able to drop his Australian accent, and the actor David Koechner, who played the "wise man" Dale, an apostle to the women victims and the teacher of wisdom to James. The truly standout performance is that of Bianca A. Santos, who plays Antonia the older of the two sisters. There is an organic arc of development in Antonia's character, as we see her abused and then transformed from her traumatic experience. For that excellent performance alone, the film lives up to its billing of priceless.
Joel Smallbone plays the widower named James, who has recently lost custody of his small daughter. Down on his luck, he takes a risky job in driving a truck non-stop through the American southwest. Once James realizes that he is transporting two young Mexican women, he is very slow to catch on that he is engaging in an act of human trafficking. When he comes to that realization too late, he then spends most of the film in attempting to rescue them.
For most of the film, "Priceless" is clearly an action film seeking raise awareness about an important social ill. But in the final segment, the film shifts gears into a Christian-oriented message. The key dramatic symbol is a necklace worn by one of the young Mexican women that is referred to as "God's shot." Holding that necklace, James comes to see that he is awaiting a divinely inspired moment to rescue the two women. The film closes with James now helping to run a Christian "safe house" for female victims of human trafficking.
Sadly, the film does not hold together. Still, there were good performances from Smallbone, who was able to drop his Australian accent, and the actor David Koechner, who played the "wise man" Dale, an apostle to the women victims and the teacher of wisdom to James. The truly standout performance is that of Bianca A. Santos, who plays Antonia the older of the two sisters. There is an organic arc of development in Antonia's character, as we see her abused and then transformed from her traumatic experience. For that excellent performance alone, the film lives up to its billing of priceless.