Second Best

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William Hurt plays a present-day bachelor-postman in his 40s, living a lonely life in a Welsh village, who wants to adopt a 10-year-old boy. Is he a pervert? No, he just wants to do father-and-son things, like fishing and camping. I haven't a clue as to what this movie is trying to say...and I feel even more helpless trying to summarize its plot. The tough little kid he's matched with temporarily is a mercurial tyke who seems to want to manipulate Hurt and exploit his open heart--but for what purpose? (If it's for personal gain, he's going about it the wrong way). Director Chris Menges, working from a screenplay by David Cook, adapting his novel, gets very fine work from his star, but the picture is a curious one, melodramatic and somewhat off-putting. The story's main themes--childhood vs. Adulthood, rebelliousness vs. Allowing yourself to be loved--cover familiar territory, while Chris Cleary Miles as the lad (despite being a natural child performer) is stuck with impossible scenes such as breaking a window and screaming at Hurt, "The honeymoon's over!" John Hurt is very funny in a brief supporting bit, but Alan Cumming is unintentionally villainous and theatrical as an adoption caseworker. Menges fiddles around with camera tricks and other artistic flourishes that wouldn't have been necessary had he been given a script with clearer intentions. Despite all this, Hurt's performance as a man who desires to be a good father is touching and expressive, but it isn't enough to save the picture. ** from ****

Second best is a touching and moving masterpiece directed by Chris Menges . The plot reminded me of another great British movie – "Dear Frankie ".I guess it is that father – son relationship that makes movies like these two so special. The loyalty of the son both in the characters of Jimmy played by Nathan Yapp and Graham Holt (William Hurt) is touching and I am not ashamed to admit that there were moments of this movie which truly brought tears to my eyes. One other reviewer wrote: "Chris Cleary Miles' apparently initial screen performance as the troubled youth is near amazing." And I just couldn't agree more with that – the acting of Chris Cleary Miles, William Hurt and for that matter all the other actors in this movie is first class – their gestures, the words they say , the way they say them – you just have to watch it to experience the movie – because that is what you are going to get an unforgettable experience. The flashbacks moments (the memories of the little Jimmy) were very careful chosen and I felt really weird watching them , knowing that there is something more hidden out there– this feeling stayed with me until the final scenes in which these flashbacks became more revealing … There is also a lot of symbolism is Second Best –the scene in which the boy looks at the man who wants to adopt him trough a broken window is just one example and if you watch it more than once you will sure notice many other symbols – the letter, the scars ... etc You just couldn't watch the movie without noticing how much the music contributes to it – piano or guitars, it fits the scenes really good - making the emotional impact they have on the viewer's powerful and overwhelming.

I've read the other reviews posted here and concur with all of them. The film triumphs in its realistic depiction of two broken hearts, Jamie's and Graham's. I think, in order to appreciate the story, one must have somehow experienced the psychic shock of childhood abandonment, either emotionally or by outright physical abandonment. The pleasure of watching this film, aside from the acting and cinematography, is having the sense that it will work out okay. At the very end, when Jamie walks briskly to catch up with Graham, slips his hand into the grownup's hand, and then walks much more slowly, one can see in their stride together the fulfillment each has received. I rewound the film at that point to see that scene again.

I rarely write reviews for movies. And having seen the other excellent reviews, mine is hardly needed. But I stumbled across this movie and felt I had to comment on it. This is an excellent movie with wonderful acting, directing, writing, screen play, and filming. I saw the last 2/3 of the movie by accident and could not tear myself away from it. William Hurt and the boy actor (sorry - forgot the name) are thrown together by life's accidents and develop bonds for one another. The rough edges on each character are worn smooth as each accommodates the other and learns of the other's trials and humanity. The acting is superb and rarely gets in the way of the content - more to the point, the acting complements the story well. But what makes the movie special is the character development. The writing, directing, and screen play successfully convey the existential experiences of the actors as they develop and react to one another. A good song, a good poem, a good book - are made special if they are accessible - if they evoke within you the ring of truth and personal history. This movie communicated with me extremely well on a personal basis, on many plans at the same time. Every element of this film was well crafted. The movie is cerebral and touching - with very few rough edges. I couldn't recommend it more highly for an adult audience.

This is an exquisitely poignant tale of a love-starved, troubled orphan boy and an emotionally incomplete man who has decided to reach out for what he wants most in life: a son. Jamie very much wants to love the kind man who wants to adopt him but is prevented from doing so by the promise he made to his biological father just before dad went to jail: to love him "best in the whole world forever." In what may just be the greatest dramatic performance by a child ever captured on film (surpassing even that of Freddie Bartholomew in "Captains Courageous" who had held that title for that past 60 years), Chris Cleary Miles demonstrates a precocity which makes one wonder if he hasn't already overcome some great tribulation(s?) in his short life in order to give such a compelling performance. Alternately masochistic, loving, violent and affectionate, the range and depth of emotion he portrays are nonpareil. I am still having trouble believing it was only a movie! It is unfortunate that Miles never acted in another movie; on the other hand, when you start at the top you can only go down. Others have called this William Hurt's greatest role and I would have to agree. While his transformation from the stiff, detached loner to loving father was beautifully written in the book by David Cook, Hurt interprets this flawlessly. In fact you might say the film's brilliance was relatively easy on the heels of Cook's depictions. Nevertheless every scene in the movie is significant and the editing with the multiple flashbacks was excellent. Why this film did not win all kinds of awards is beyond me. "Second Best" is second best to none in its genre.

source: Second Best

Happened past this on cable, and was instantly hooked. Chris Cleary Miles is an exceptional young actor, and I eagerly await his next performance. William Hurt turns in his usual outstanding performance as well. Overall, a touching and ultimately uplifting piece.

second best is a nice film that can be emotionally tough to watch at times when the young boy has his tantrums. It stars well known actor William Hurt and a young boy actor. these two actors are the main characters in the film. William Hurt was known for his romantic roles in his early films but this is a different role for him. He looks very different in his role as a postmaster with his glasses but you can recognise his ginger hair. This is a good study of life in a post office and dealing with troubled relationships. The setting of the film can be mistook for Ireland but no, it's actually filmed in Wales. it's a nice setting. A Scottish actor from bond film goldeneye and julie walters are also in this film. It has a very nice music tune to listen to played at the end of the film.

The story is about a kind man in his forties that never dated, drank or did drugs. He ended up in a kind of boring everyday life in a 5000 population town and felt something was missing, perhaps a child would do the trick? This movie is a cute story about a man who adopts a small boy with certain behavioral problems.