6.7/10
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142 user 92 critic

The Best of Me (2014)

Trailer
1:47 | Trailer
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) | 1 more credit »
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2,771 ( 88)

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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
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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. Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

You never forget your first love.

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This the 9th film adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel of the same title. See more »

Goofs

when Dawson and Amanda are pushing April's car, Dawson opens the engine compartment. Amanda's friends drive up and the driver of the car says, April come on but he should have said Amanda come on. See more »

Quotes

Young Amanda: Are you actually about to say something else?
Younger Dawson: My cousin thinks you were trying to talk to me the other day.
Young Amanda: I was.
Younger Dawson: He thinks I blew it.
Young Amanda: You did. You don't know how to flirt, do you?
Younger Dawson: Guess not.
Young Amanda: Well, what are you gonna do about it? OK. This isn't working. OK, I'll tell you want. uh... I want you to think about it and, uh... meet me at Squeals Saturday night at 6:00 maybe? - Dawson nodes his head - Is that a yes?
Younger Dawson: Yeah.
Young Amanda: OK. Maybe you'll figure out how to flirt with me by then. -Amanda Starts Engine - ...
[...]
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Connections

Referenced in Half in the Bag: The 2016 Oscars (2016) See more »

Soundtracks

The Way Things Go
Performed by Thomas Rhett
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User Reviews

 
Two movies for the price of one
8 February 2015 | by A_Different_DrummerSee all my reviews

... which may not necessarily be a good thing.

Oddly, you divide the two almost at the midway point, that is, the one hour mark.

The first movie is a really sweet love story about lost love. It features a lot of flashbacks but luckily the actors playing the flashbacks and the actors playing 'real time' are all very competent, do a great job,the script works well, and the audience has a fun ride.

If the first hour were a movie on its own, I would give it a very strong rating.

However almost at the turn of the second hour (two hours BTW is much too long for this story) the connection between audience and viewer (this important factor discussed in many of my IMDb reviews) starts to fade as many story complications set in. And the script becomes lost in the various arcs.

I will not go into the complications but let me say that by the "climax" of the last Act the viewer may wonder if he/she dozed off and woke up in front of the TV watching an episode of JUSTIFIED. Enough said.

If the second hour were a movie on its own, I would give it a very low rating.

As an entire movie as it now stands, this film can be a rough ride for the viewer, and that is not a good thing.

Notes:

* always happy to see Michelle Monaghan, an actress under-used these days. Real star quality.

* Liana Liberato has a nice career ahead and better still actually looks like a young Michelle Monaghan, which is more than I can say of the casting choices for the male leads

* here is a tip for casting directors. FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE. Help you avoid the problem of casting two actors playing the same role (one in flashback) WHO LOOK NOTHING AT ALL LIKE EACH OTHER


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Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog | Official Facebook | See more »

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2014 (Canada) See more »

Also Known As:

Une seconde chance See more »

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA See more »

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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
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »

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