Second Best (2004)

Director:

Eric Weber

Writer:

Eric Weber

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Losing sucks, but it doesn't necessarily kill you.

Plot:

Jealousy overwhelms a group of friends, particularly struggling writer Elliot, as they prepare for the homecoming of their old friend, a wildly successful L.A. producer.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Gay Interest | Gay Son

Cast

Joe Pantoliano	...	Elliot
Boyd Gaines	...	Richard
Peter Gerety	...	Marshall
Bronson Pinchot	...	Doc Klingenstein
Matthew Arkin	...	Gerald
Jennifer Tilly	...	Carole
Stephen Bogardus	...	George
Barbara Barrie	...	Dorothea
Polly Draper	...	Paula
James Ryan	...	Danny
Stephen Sable	...	Lum Chin
Damian Young	...	Robert Stern
Melody Pantoliano	...	Waitress
Irma St. Paule	...	Beth
Frank McCombs	...	Frank
Jacob Weber	...	Checkout Person
Patricia Hearst	...	Alana
Fiona Gallagher	...	Tiffany
Marcella Lowery	...	Nurse
Milton James	...	Pakastani Man
Paulina Porizkova	...	Allison
Tara Gropt	...	Karolina
Jessica Weber	...	Saleswoman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Jones	...	Voiceover
Pramod Kumar	...	Vishva
Robert Montano	...	Mike
Brooke Campbell	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Debbie Lang	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Eric Weber

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Eric Weber

Produced by
Callum Greene	....	producer
Pamela Hirsch	....	line producer
Anthony Katagas	....	producer
Paul Mayersohn	....	executive producer
Joe Pantoliano	....	producer
Doug Torres	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Leccese
Tom O'Brien
Joe Weber
Nathan Wilson

Cinematography by
Chris Norr

Film Editing by
Craig Cobb

Casting by
Lina Todd

Production Design by
John Nyomarkay

Art Direction by
Mila Khalevich

Set Decoration by
Ethan Tobman

Costume Design by
Kitty Boots

Makeup Department
Brian Abbott	....	assistant makeup artist
Ryan McKnight	....	makeup artist
Leo Won	....	key hair stylist
Leo Won	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Matt Christensen	....	post-production supervisor
Louise Fenton	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kara Doherty	....	second assistant director
Kimberly Metsch	....	second second assistant director
Curtis Smith	....	assistant director
Doug Torres	....	second unit director

Art Department
Alida Jung	....	property master
Gary Kroytor	....	set dresser
Alanna Levy	....	assistant property master
Shane Rasco	....	lead man

Sound Department
Joshua Anderson	....	boom operator
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	sound designer
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	sound editor
Eric Offin	....	sound mixer
Eric Rolnick	....	foley mixer

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Russomanno	....	title designer

Camera and Electrical Department
Manuel Billeter	....	first assistant camera
Ethan Borsuk	....	assistant camera: second unit
Hilary Craven	....	still photographer
Jon Delgado	....	director of photography: second unit
Jonathan Healey	....	still photographer
Marcus Lehmann	....	best boy electric
Chris Reynolds	....	first assistant camera
Noah David Smith	....	additional cinematographer
David Stern	....	key grip
Steffen Unger	....	gaffer
Andy Westbrook	....	best boy grip

Casting Department
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting
Anthony Serignese	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Michelle Botticelli	....	additional editor
Sarah Flack	....	additional editor
Paul Leonardo Jr.	....	post-production coordinator
Trevor Ristow	....	additional editor
Larry Schmitt	....	on-line editor

Music Department
James Flatto	....	music editor

Other crew
Laura Danese	....	production office coordinator
Steve Faughnan	....	location assistant
Peter Pastorelli	....	location manager
Matthew Rodbard	....	production assistant
Carl Schel	....	location manager
Andrew Vona	....	office production assistant
Sharon Watt	....	script supervisor

Thanks
Mike Spera	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Keep Your Head
• Second Best Inc.
• Tenafly Film Company

Distributors

• THINKFilm (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Velocity Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Dream Entertainment (worldwide)

Other Companies

• Analog Digital International  camera equipment provided by
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  production insurance
• Fat Dot  publicity
• Kaufman Astoria Studios  grip and electric equipment
• Tandem Sound  sound post-production

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content

Runtime:

86 min | Canada:90 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Cresskill, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Keep Your Head

Quotes:

Elliot:[reading from his printed leaflet] That was right about the time my beautiful wife Paula was leaving me for the architect who designed the house we could no longer afford. A handsome, athletic man with a six-figure income and a pleasant, respectful manner.
[pause]
Elliot:I know I'll never get over loving her for the rest of my life.

failure is relative

Well, i thought this film was going to be an uncomfortable and depressing experience, dealing as it does with personal failure and the jealousy, despondency and self-loathing it can create. But as it turns out, this film is a gem - real, uplifting, moving but unsentimental. It illustrates perfectly how people's unfulfilled aspirations and desires and their search for "success" can blind them to the true worthwhile and positive aspects of themselves and their lives.

I'm currently reading a book about status anxiety. This is a human condition that is rampant in modern society and it effects all of us to some extent - the need to keep up appearances with our peers (in a material sense) or else believe ourselves to be unloved, useless failures. money = success. This film illustrates this condition perfectly. It also shows us that no one can be a "loser" when they have good friends, people they love and care about and can have fun with. At the end of the day who is the real loser? The millionaire with no friends (real that is) or the toilet attendant with many?

Very few films like this are made any more - intelligent, though-provoking, profound and uncompromising. No car chases, no unnecessary violence, no product placement, just a very good film.