"Best Boy" is one of the loveliest, most heartbreaking yet life-affirming documentaries ever filmed. When I saw it with a group of special education teachers in the early 1990s--teachers who knew students just like Philly and taught them day in and day out--there was not a dry eye in the house. "Best Boy" touches the heart and establishes that the greatest "need" for special people is their liberation from pampering and being spoon-fed, and ultimately being self-sufficient. It also asks the all important question of parents: Are you there for your child (even if the child is nearing 50), or is the "child" there for you? An exceptionally moving film-going experience. If you don't cry while watching this touching real-life story, then you might want to check your pulse.
8 Reviews
Let's cheer Philly on.
DukeEman29 January 1999
Heartfelt doco on a 52 year old retarded man, Philly, whose parents have kept him to themselves. This doco explores Philly's new life as he makes contact with the outside world and the relationship he has with his parents who both pass away during the making of this doco.
Are You into Film? Or to educate your family?
contactseth-17 July 2005
After watching this documentary on Zero, a 45 year-old man, with a disability, who must learn how to take care of himself, before his parents, the ones who always took care of zero up until today, dies. A film maker, like myself, thrives, to watch documentaries, this documentaries gave good information on how to do a good documentary. If your looking for a way to educated your children, or change the Way your family thinks, renting this 104 minute movie, will blow them away. it teaches you how the "outcasts" or the "Special needed people," have feeling, even though they are different. It really makes you think about your life, and how you should take life for granted. Zero, works hard to change his way of life, and the most difficult challenges, he faces, and though they are tough, Zero, overcomes them, with a shocking and special story to go with it.
I loved this documentary!
tangyjane1123 August 2003
I have lost count of the number of times I have watched this documentary. I rarely buy movies and yet this one I feel I have to have at my disposal for some reason. It touches a spot so deep in my soul I want to be sure I can always access that spot. I fell in love with all involved, including the gruff father.....who eventually allows his sweetness to show when he is too weak to fight it. I would not be surprised to hear that this documentary was added to your list of favorites as well.
Excellent
ahaldema25 October 2002
This is an excellent film about the heartbreaking as well as the inspirational decisions that can and need to be made in life. Pearl's emotions (her happiness and especially her heartbreak) and the way they are captured not only by Wohl but by McDonough make this film a true masterpiece. I would recomend this to anyone, and its sad to see it has such a low rating on the database.
"Best Man", however, was not such an incredible film, and only when it is shown in conjunction with "Best Boy" could it garner any merit. The first fifteen minutes in particular seem to present Wohl as incredibly egocentric given the topic and situation of the film, and I truly wish I had not seen them.
"Best Man", however, was not such an incredible film, and only when it is shown in conjunction with "Best Boy" could it garner any merit. The first fifteen minutes in particular seem to present Wohl as incredibly egocentric given the topic and situation of the film, and I truly wish I had not seen them.
Here, Here!
the_paul7812 September 2004
"Good show old boy!" Enough of my lame English accent. Just wanted to support the movie commentary with a good old "three cheers" for this film. It is BRILLIANT.
If there is a rule to making an excellent film, it exists in his project.
If there were any guidelines on how to make a remarkable movie, it is found here, in Best Boy. Let's watch and learn here. OK, that's it. Thanks IMDb. Thank you for taking an interest in this fine film. Now I go back to commenting on Resident Evil 2, which is pure fly crap in comparison to Best Boy. Can I say that? Why am I talking to myself?
If there is a rule to making an excellent film, it exists in his project.
If there were any guidelines on how to make a remarkable movie, it is found here, in Best Boy. Let's watch and learn here. OK, that's it. Thanks IMDb. Thank you for taking an interest in this fine film. Now I go back to commenting on Resident Evil 2, which is pure fly crap in comparison to Best Boy. Can I say that? Why am I talking to myself?
Philip Wohl at 52
take2docs16 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The world would be a far better place were there more adults like Philip Wohl in it. The fact that Mr. Wohl happens to be an imbecile is beside the point. I refer to the human subject's childlike manner and admirable innocence, more than anything else. Philip's mental incompetence notwithstanding, here's a model of a gentleman if ever there was one. Mild-mannered and mannerly, the poor fellow wouldn't even know how to spell ego, let alone be able to define the word. Which is to say, Wohl is about as humble as they get.
BEST BOY was directed by a little known documentarian named Ira Wohl, whose feeble-minded cousin, the adorable 'Philly,' is the focus of the film.
Philip Wohl certainly makes for a compelling case study in what it is like to live as someone with special needs. Here's a 52-year-old of whom it is said has the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. (Philly says he's 16 but he's fooling no one but himself.) It comes as no surprise to find Mr. Wohl still living at home, with his aged parents -- mother Pearl (75) and father Max (78).
No doubt there are some people who would think that to be born an imbecile would be absolutely awful, but as we learn from watching BEST BOY, imbecility can have its advantages. Consider that Philly doesn't have to work for a living, getting to spend every day lounging about the house. He is doted upon by a supportive if not overprotective mother. He knows nothing of the cold adult world beyond his windows and appears blissfully ignorant as to his own mortality. For Philly, every day is like a holiday. As Mr. Wohl's daddy tells it: "He's a boss. He eats eight times a day. He does what he pleases." (And here we thought only kings and commoners among the leisure class get to live the good life.)
Mama, meanwhile, sees things a little differently. Although Pearl loves her baby boy immensely, she confesses that caring for a dependent of this nature and for as long as she has can at times be mentally draining and a burden. At one point in the film we hear Pearl express her displeasure with God, feeling not so much blessed as punished in having been given a mental incompetent for a son. Saddened is she, however, when the day comes to send Philly off to a training center for those with learning disabilities, leaving her feeling like an empty nester.
Some of the best moments in the film are when director Ira takes his cousin out and about on day trips. We watch Philly visit the local zoo, take a ride in a cable car, try his hand at shooting hoops, and perform the box step with his lady friend. Surprisingly, Philly is not the least bit uncomfortable when away from home and out in the world -- rather sociable and quite independent-at-heart as he is. And, as an aside, the guy can sing the words to that golden oldie, "Anniversary Song" probably just as coherently as anyone one of us could.
As for Philly being able to tell time simply by holding a watch up to his ear, well, that's a whole other matter.
BEST BOY was directed by a little known documentarian named Ira Wohl, whose feeble-minded cousin, the adorable 'Philly,' is the focus of the film.
Philip Wohl certainly makes for a compelling case study in what it is like to live as someone with special needs. Here's a 52-year-old of whom it is said has the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. (Philly says he's 16 but he's fooling no one but himself.) It comes as no surprise to find Mr. Wohl still living at home, with his aged parents -- mother Pearl (75) and father Max (78).
No doubt there are some people who would think that to be born an imbecile would be absolutely awful, but as we learn from watching BEST BOY, imbecility can have its advantages. Consider that Philly doesn't have to work for a living, getting to spend every day lounging about the house. He is doted upon by a supportive if not overprotective mother. He knows nothing of the cold adult world beyond his windows and appears blissfully ignorant as to his own mortality. For Philly, every day is like a holiday. As Mr. Wohl's daddy tells it: "He's a boss. He eats eight times a day. He does what he pleases." (And here we thought only kings and commoners among the leisure class get to live the good life.)
Mama, meanwhile, sees things a little differently. Although Pearl loves her baby boy immensely, she confesses that caring for a dependent of this nature and for as long as she has can at times be mentally draining and a burden. At one point in the film we hear Pearl express her displeasure with God, feeling not so much blessed as punished in having been given a mental incompetent for a son. Saddened is she, however, when the day comes to send Philly off to a training center for those with learning disabilities, leaving her feeling like an empty nester.
Some of the best moments in the film are when director Ira takes his cousin out and about on day trips. We watch Philly visit the local zoo, take a ride in a cable car, try his hand at shooting hoops, and perform the box step with his lady friend. Surprisingly, Philly is not the least bit uncomfortable when away from home and out in the world -- rather sociable and quite independent-at-heart as he is. And, as an aside, the guy can sing the words to that golden oldie, "Anniversary Song" probably just as coherently as anyone one of us could.
As for Philly being able to tell time simply by holding a watch up to his ear, well, that's a whole other matter.
The most memorable film of my life
specifically-sarah21 July 2022
I'm 51, and first saw this when I was 9. I can't remember if I've seen it more than once, but it is still so clear in my mind, I mean it made an IMPRESSION. Truly one of the most thought-provoking and heart-warming (but not in a treacly way) movies you will ever see.
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