Best Men (1997)

Director:

Tamra Davis

Writers (WGA):

Art Edler Brown (written by) &
Tracy Fraim (written by)

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A comedy thriller about four men, a wedding and everybody's funeral.

Plot:

The film opens with 4 tuxedo clad men showing up at a penitentiary to meet a friend who has just been...

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | High School Friends | Title Directed By Female | Shootout | Siege

Cast

Dean Cain	...	Buzz
Andy Dick	...	Teddy
Sean Patrick Flanery	...	Billy
Mitchell Whitfield	...	Sol
Luke Wilson	...	Jesse
Fred Ward	...	Sheriff Phillips
Raymond J. Barry	...	Hoover
Drew Barrymore	...	Hope
Brad Dourif	...	The Vet
Tracy Fraim	...	Cuervo
Art Edler Brown	...	Carter
Jeff Phillips	...	The Rookie
Biff Yeager	...	Mayor Boar (also as Biff Yaeger)
Kathryn Joosten	...	Edie
Dee Maaske	...	Dorothy
Cal Gibson	...	Guard
David Wells	...	Priest
K.K. Dodds	...	Cindy Vargas
Peter Zusman	...	Crowd Member #3
William Martin Brennan	...	Bank Employee
Wendy Worthington	...	Bank Manager
Terry Gatens	...	Gunman #2
Brian Hayes Currie	...	Gunman #3
Robert Harvey	...	Male Reporter
Amy Etra	...	Woman in Crowd #1
Anne von Herrmann	...	Bank Teller
Christina Louise	...	Woman in Crowd #2
George Christy	...	Sheriff Baker
Caesar Luisi	...	Assistant FBI Man
Duke Valenti	...	Sniper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris M. Allport	...	Teddy (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Tamra Davis

Writing credits (WGA)
Art Edler Brown		(written by) &
Tracy Fraim		(written by)

Produced by
Art Edler Brown	....	co-producer
Christopher Buchanan	....	executive producer
Tracy Fraim	....	co-producer
Jeffrey D. Ivers	....	executive producer
Bradley Jenkel	....	producer
Brad Krevoy	....	producer
Deborah Ridpath	....	producer
Sheryl Schwartz	....	co-producer
Steven Stabler	....	producer
Jeanne Van Cott	....	line producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
James Glennon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Paul Trejo

Casting by
Kim Davis-Wagner		(as Kim Davis)

Production Design by
Toby Corbett

Costume Design by
Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department
Denise Dellavalle	....	assistant makeup artist
Carrie Garton	....	additional makeup artist
Kimberly Greene	....	makeup department head
Kerry Mendenhall	....	assistant hair stylist
Alyson Murphy	....	additional hair stylist (as Alyson M. Farley)
Barbara Olvera	....	hair department head
Joni Powell	....	additional makeup artist (as Joni Meers Powell)

Production Management
Eric Bergman	....	post-production supervisor
Scott Niemeyer	....	executive in charge of production finance (as Scott A. Niemeyer)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Adler	....	assistant director
Laura Sylvester	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Thomas R. Cahill	....	property master
Scott Duthie	....	visual development
Lori Mazuer	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Peter Bentley	....	sound
Richard F.W. Davis	....	sound effects editor
Melissa Sewell	....	sound effects editor
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Vincent Montefusco	....	special effects: pyro/mech/PT
Ron Petruccione	....	mechanical special effects
Beecher Tomlinson	....	special effects: 2nd unit-pyro

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts
Hal Burton	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Hank Calia	....	stunts
Eliza Coleman	....	stunts (as Liza Coleman)
David D. Darling	....	stunts (as Dave Darling)
Vince Deadrick Sr.	....	stunts
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Art Hickman	....	stunts
Craig Hosking	....	stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunts
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Rob King	....	stunts (as Robert King)
Steven Lambert	....	stunts (as Steve Lambert)
Terry Leonard	....	stunts (as Terry J. Leonard)
Fred Lerner	....	stunts
Kurt D. Lott	....	stunts (as Kurt Lott)
Tom Morga	....	stunts
Bobby Ore	....	stunts
J.P. Romano	....	stunts
Sue Runyon	....	stunts
Lincoln Simonds	....	stunts
Peter Stader	....	stunts
Neil Summers	....	stunts (as Neal Summers)
Mike Watson	....	stunts
Jim Wilkey	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth J. Appel	....	electrical best boy (as Ken Appel)
Joseph D. Beam	....	electrician
Kevin Brennan	....	chief lighting technician
Nick Cline	....	electrician (as Nicolas Cline)
Tamra Davis	....	additional camera operator: Super 8mm camera
David W. Donoho	....	key grip (as David Donoho)
James Etheridge	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Rick Grover	....	grip
Sean C. Hise	....	assistant camera: "b" camera (as Sean Hise)
Casey Hotchkiss	....	camera operator
Gary Huddleston	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Kevin Ivey	....	film loader
Mark R. Leins	....	additional first assistant camera
Philippe Meyer	....	grip
Reginald Morris	....	electrician
George A. Olson Jr.	....	second assistant camera
David Salamone	....	best boy grip
Michael Salamone	....	grip
Joe Sanchez	....	first assistant camera
Rico Torres	....	still photographer
Ross Warren	....	electrician
James D. Wickman	....	dolly grip

Casting Department
Peter Alwazzan	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Brent Eldridge	....	digital color correction
Deborah Gavlak	....	first assistant editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music editor
Marcus Barone	....	executive in charge of music
Kim Naves	....	music editor
Karyn Rachtman	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Mark 'Bugsy' Albertson	....	driver (as Mark Albertson)
Michael Avallon	....	driver
Michael Belpedio	....	driver (as Michael R. Belpedio)
Frank Calabria	....	driver
Ronald Wm. Cowan	....	driver
Jim DePue	....	transportation captain (as James DePue)
Timothy 'Toes' Erwin	....	transportation coordinator
David Joseph	....	driver
Morgan McGuinness	....	driver
Randy Mellison	....	driver
Chaddon E. Merrick	....	driver (as Chad Merrick)
Gordie Merrick	....	transportation coordinator
Guy Merrick	....	driver (as Gordon C. Merrick III)
Michael Merrick	....	driver
Louis Provenzano Jr.	....	driver (as Louis Provenzano)

Other crew
Theodore Ambrosini	....	legal services provided by
Brendan Biamon	....	set production assistant
Linda Brown	....	unit publicist
Casey Lynn De Stefano	....	assistant location manager (as KC Lynn De Stefano)
Matthew D. Fainchtein	....	office production assistant
Richard B.L. Fleming	....	first assistant accountant (as Richard Fleming)
Jorge A. Gallego	....	production assistant
Deborah Gavlak	....	first avid assistant
Paul Giorgi	....	payroll accountant
Paul Giorgi	....	payroll
Terry Gusto	....	location manager (as Terry B. Gusto)
Kent Hamilton	....	production insurance: Truman Van Dyke Company
Godie 'Tracy' Hubert	....	location scout (as Tracy Hubert)
Joanna L. Rees Jones	....	production liaison
Tali Lipa	....	production accountant
Nicole McVey	....	office production assistant
Scott R. Meyers	....	key production assistant (as Scott Meyers)
Douglas Morton	....	assistant production office coordinator (as Douglas S. Morton)
Steve Ransohoff	....	completion bond: Film Finances Inc.
Amaryvis Sierra	....	production assistant
Jennifer Stephens	....	production office coordinator
Heidi Sturdevant	....	script supervisor
Adam Wallace	....	set production assistant
Holly Williamson	....	production assistant
Carl Conti	....	stand-in: Mitchell Whitfield (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)
• Orion Pictures Corporation
• Rank Organisation, The

Distributors

• CTV International
• Filmax International (Spain)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Manuel Salvador (UK)
• Orion Pictures Corporation
• Orion Pictures Entertainment

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Prime Casting  extras casting
• Pro 7  legal services

Also Known As:

"Risky Bride" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Austria:18 | France:U | Netherlands:16 (video premiere) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Front Street, Norwalk, California, USA

Company:

Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA)

Trivia:

The number of the bus they get on at the end is 2525, the same as in Speed (1994/I).

Quotes:

Jesse:I'm letting you go.
Hope:You're letting me go? That is so, so male!

Movie Connections:

References Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Soundtrack:

Burn To Shine

This film is mad.

I have to admit Best Men was one of those films I had passed dozens of times at the video store - every time meaning to check it out. But I am glad that I finally did. In a way this is just like other off-beat, crime capers. The plot won't keep you guessing but then, that's not the point. Instead the pace of the film matches the laid-back town where it is set. And the movie definitely plays for laughs over any attempt at pathos. Which is good, the last thing we need is yet another movie trying to be more than it really is. All the audience is asked to do is kick back and enjoy the ride. However the film is not without its surprises - namely the performances of Dean Cain and Sean Patrick Flanery. Dean Cain is a revelation - forget Superman, this guy should definitely aim for parts like these. He brings a sensitivity to his role that belies his previous tv role. And Sean Patrick Flanery gets a mention for his adeptness with Shakespearean dialogue. There are not many actors on the big screen today who make it sound so easy - especially when you consider that not all of the dialogue spoken is original (and therefore with no prior standards or interpretations to guide the way). Kudos to the writers too, for doing such a great job. However, don't let the Shakespeare bit put off any action fans - there's more than enough to keep the blood pumping. Shakespeare plus shootouts and a groom who is going to be reeaallly late - this movie is mad.