The Best of Me (2014)

A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers:

Nicholas Sparks (novel), Will Fetters (screenplay)

Stars:

James Marsden, Michelle Monaghan, Luke Bracey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Monaghan	...	Amanda
James Marsden	...	Dawson
Luke Bracey	...	Younger Dawson
Liana Liberato	...	Young Amanda
Gerald McRaney	...	Tuck
Caroline Goodall	...	Evelyn
Clarke Peters	...	Morgan Dupree
Sebastian Arcelus	...	Frank
Jon Tenney	...	Harvey Collier
Sean Bridgers	...	Tommy Cole
Rob Mello	...	Ted Cole (as Robert William Mello)
Hunter Burke	...	Abee
Robby Rasmussen	...	Bobby / Aaron
Caroline Hebert	...	Young April
Ian Nelson	...	Jared

Storyline

Amanda and Dawson are soul mates who met as teens and were from different backgrounds. But circumstances would force them to part ways. 20 years later they are brought back together by the passing of a mutual friend. So they go back home to fulfill his final wishes and they run into each other. While Amanda is married, albeit unhappily, she still has feelings for Dawson but can't forgive him for pushing her away.

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Plot Keywords:

heart transplant | based on novel | infidelity | adultery | death by shotgun | 

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Taglines:

You never forget your first love.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexuality, violence, some drug content and brief strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Luke Bracey was 25 when filming this and Liana Liberato was 19.

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Goofs

When Dawson is repairing Amanda's car, he puts his physic book on the motor, then closes the engine hood but without taking the book.

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Quotes

Tuck: Remember that thistle problem I had in the garden last year? Thistle is one tough weed. You can't pull it, or mow it. You have to dig it out by the root.While I was digging I got to thinking about you and Dawson.you have wounds that never healed and you lived with them so long you don't even know they're there anymore.Pain has deep roots.The only way to dig it out is to forgive him, and forgive yourself.

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Connections

Referenced in Half in the Bag: The 2016 Oscars (2016)

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Soundtracks

Down by the Riverside
Arranged by Jay Weigel
Performed by Allstar Quartet+1
Courtesy of Music of Melpomene

User Reviews

Typical characters with an average and predicable story

I'm a big fan of Romantic movies and the odd cringey film but i found this so typical and predictable. For the first time ever even i managed to predict the end which wasn't worth the build up created by the rest of the film. During scenes that were supposed to be emotional and sad i found myself laughing at how unrealistic they were.

The cast is slightly confusing. Maybe i can believe that the younger Amanda grows up to be Michelle Monaghan but i don't understand the thinking behind Young Dawson and James Marsden. Not only do they look nothing alike but Young Dawson doesn't even look young enough to be with Young Amanda.

I found myself much preferring the scenes with the young Dawson and Amanda in comparison with the older cast because i just found them so annoying. Michelle Monaghan's character seemed far to perfect with the typical problems with her perfect life.

Being the only two people in the cinema at the time, myself and my friend should have taken this as a hint. This is definitely no Notebook or Walk to remember.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Best of Me

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,003,827, 19 October 2014

Gross USA:

$26,766,213

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,609,668

Company Credits

Production Co:

DiNovi Pictures, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1