What can be advised to viewers who like sentimental love movies played by great actors? “The Best in Me” is a melodrama whose plot is borrowed from the work of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, the author of the famous “Diary of Memory”. The film project about the tragic fate of two teenagers in love, which saw the light in 2014, did not become the rental leader, but was generally positively received by critics. So what is this melodrama about, who played the main and minor roles?
A few words about the plot
As schoolchildren, Amanda and Dawson were deeply in love with each other, dreamed of spending their whole lives together. They did not even bother belonging to different social strata. However, the accident, the culprit of which was the father of the guy, did not allow them to maintain a relationship. Lovers meet 21 years later in a small town where their feelings arose. Of course, Amanda and Dawson have a desire to start all over again, but fate again intervenes in their plans.
Most of the melodrama is occupied by the recollections of the main characters of the time when they were young and in love. Viewers learn how their relationship began, which led to the breakup. Yesterday and today's main characters are played by different actors. “The Best in Me” is the picture that became the ninth film adaptation of the works written by Sparks. Let's talk more about the characters.
James Marsden and his character
Dawson Cole - the protagonist of the sentimental tape "The Best in Me". Initially, the creators of the film planned to invite Paul Walker to the role of an adult Dawson, but the actor died unexpectedly. As a result, Cole played James Marsden, completely unlike the "young version" of Dawson. The hero is an employee of an oil company, lives alone and constantly regrets breaking up with the only girl he loved.
James Marsden became a star long before the release of The Best in Me. The fame was given to the actor by the role of the mutant man, whom he played in the fantastic film “X-Men,” most of the audience remembers him precisely as Cyclops from this tape. Interestingly, Marsden starred in the film adaptation of another famous work of Sparks - "The Diary of Memory." Fans can also see James in such films as “Superman Returns”, “Hairspray”, “Route 60”.
Who played the young Dawson
Luke Bracey is an aspiring actor. He got the role of Dawson from the past, which appears in the recollections of the protagonist. Thanks to this, viewers learn that Cole comes from a dysfunctional family. His father is a well-known drug dealer in the city, constantly mocking his son. As a result, the teenager runs away from home and settles with a practically unfamiliar pensioner who agreed to shelter him.
To the image of Dawson in his youth, critics had the greatest number of complaints. The guy who grew up in a criminal family turned out to be too ideal, he completely lacks the negative traits of character that he could acquire in such an environment. In addition, Luc Bracey is completely different from Marsden, even has a different eye color.
Before the release of the drama “Best in Me,” the Australian actor was known mainly in his homeland. The popularity came to him thanks to roles in several series, among which the television project "Dance Academy" is most famous. At the time of playing the role of Cole, he was 25 years old, but he is quite convincing in the image of a schoolboy.
Michelle Monaghan and her heroine
Amanda is the second most important character in the sad film The Best in Me. Her "adult version" was played by actress Michelle Monaghan. The heroine is about 40 years old, she is married to her unloved husband, brings up her son. In the past, she had to endure not only parting with her beloved, but also the death of her two-year-old daughter, who was taken away by a serious illness.
Initially, the adult Amanda appears to the audience as a tired, almost lost her interest in life woman whose dreams have not come true. However, in the process of communicating with a man from her past, the heroine changes. She comes to life, again begins to resemble the girl she once was. Amanda even intends to change her life and find a place for Dawson in her, but fate again does not allow her to do this.
As a child, Michelle Monaghan dreamed of becoming a famous journalist. However, the attractive appearance of the girl attracted the attention of representatives of an advertising agency. As a result, she first became a model, and then declared herself as a talented actress. Michelle became a star thanks to the paintings "Constantine: Lord of Darkness" and "A Kiss Through." You can see the actress in other famous films, such as “Mission Impossible 3”, “Girl of My Nightmares”, “On the Hook”.
Who played the young Amanda
Like Dawson, Amanda is played by two actresses. The image of the main romantic heroine in her youth was embodied by Liana Liberato. The character is a girl from a very wealthy family whose parents, of course, do not want to see her daughter with a suspicious Cole. The schoolgirl’s father even offers her boyfriend a bribe so that he broke up with her, but he refuses. The heroine has a strong character, is ready to fight for her love, overcoming any obstacles. She also has different dreams, which, as viewers later see, are not destined to come true.
Liana Liberato has been in films and TV shows since she was 12, making her debut in the show "Detective Rush." In the theater, the gifted girl even began to play at the age of three. At the time of the release of the drama "The Best in Me", the American actress was 19 years old. The most famous film projects and TV shows with her participation: “Doctor House”, “Sons of Anarchy”, “Stuck in Love”.
Who is that?
Gerald MacRainy is a famous actor who embodied the image of Tuck in a melodrama. His hero is the owner of a car repair shop in which the main character who escaped from his father finds shelter. So, several years ago, having lost his beloved wife and having lost his goal in life, he gains a second wind with the advent of a guy in his life who needs to be taken care of. He protects Dawson from a family trying to get him back, allows him to stay in his house and gives valuable advice.
So - a character whom viewers see only in the memoirs of the protagonist. By the time the matured Amanda and Dawson meet, the character is already dying. It is precisely the lovers who come to say goodbye to him, since he played a significant role in their lives. The fulfillment of his dying will forces them to spend some time together, as a result of which feelings return again.
Gerald MacRainy is an American actor who received one of the last roles in the movie "The Best in Me". He coped well with the image of a deeply unhappy person, but still remaining strong and kind. Viewers know Macraini from such films as “Endless Story”, “Focus”, “Team“ A ””.
Sebastian Arcelus and his role
Not all actors who played important characters are listed above. “The Best in Me” is a drama that allowed once again to prove himself to such a talented person as Sebastian Arcelus. The actor got the role of Amanda's husband, whom she married in despair in an attempt to forget her lover who had turned away from her. The character was introduced primarily to show how meaningless the life of the main character turned out to be without a guy whom she loved in her youth. He is absolutely indifferent to his wife, is fond of alcohol, to which he became addicted after the death of his two-year-old daughter.
Sebastian Arselus is an American actor who prefers to star in TV shows. It is known to the audience for such sensational projects as “House of Cards”, “Left”, “In the Field of View”. Basically, this person gets the role of secondary characters, but he is not lost against the background of the main characters due to charm and talent.
Amanda Family
An important role in the melodrama is also given to the parents of the main character, played by Caroline Goodall and Douglas Griffin. Douglas did an excellent job with the image of an arrogant millionaire father who worries about his daughter's future. He offers to pay for the education of her young man, if he leaves her alone, sincerely surprised when he is refused.
The role of Amanda's mother was given to actress Caroline Goodall, who got very little screen time. She appears in the recollections of the central characters, and in the present tense. It is her responsibility to inform her daughter about the tragic fate of her lover. Caroline is an actress from the UK that viewers know from films such as Schindler's List, Exposure, and Harbor.
Dawson family
An important hero of the melodrama The Best of Me is Dawson's father, from the attacks of which he tries to hide with Tuck. Tommy Cole, a drug dealer who tends to subjugate the weak through violence, is played by the wonderful actor Sean Bridges. It is his character that plays a fatal role in the fate of his son, actually separates him from his beloved girl.
Dawson's older brothers are his father's true sons, only interested in easy money, drugs, and booze. Unlike the younger brother, they unconditionally obey the pope, follow all his orders. Roles went to Robb Mello and Hunter Burke.
Other movie characters
Other actors also participated in the creation of a sentimental picture. “The Best in Me” is a drama that has become a real finest hour for Robbie Rasmussen. This young man embodied two images at once in the film. First, he played a caring friend of the protagonist, who becomes an accidental victim of his father, and then the son of this friend, involved in the criminal business of the Cole family. Before the release of the melodrama, the actor managed to play only episodic roles in the series "Anatomy of Passion", "Clumsy".
Ian Nelson is a novice actor who embodied the image of Amanda's son and her husband, whose presence prevents his mother from parting with her unloved spouse. For Ian, this role became an opportunity to attract the attention of viewers and directors. His participation in The Hunger Games and Judge has remained virtually unnoticed by the public.
These are the stars of the best in me melodrama, which can appeal to all lovers of nostalgic love stories.