The Best of Me

Two high school students, James Marsden (Dawson) and Michelle Monaghan (Amanda) realize that they never had stopped caring each other when they reunite after twenty years. But the obvious fact that circumstances change with time create a question mark, that can they start exactly from where they had left their relation before?

Just as in The Notebook, there comes two time-frames when the narrator plays show up. Younger Amanda and Dawson roles are played by Liana Liberato and Luke Bracey respectively. The rich girl who was also spirited falls in love for quintessential, kind and good hearted boy Dawson. But their destiny had let them meet only after 20 years, from where the story begins.

If you ever heard of a book Nicholas Sparks, or his concept, you might be familiar with this movie as this movie is based on that book itself. You might also prefer the beautiful landscapes with extra addition of dollops of melodrama pushed into the scenes. The idealistic romantic moments that are set opposed to the backdrop into these scenes are quite realistically taken with care. But if you are one of those who don’t prefer his romantic love stories that are tipical, then the sensibility that often stay unabashedly painful, formulaic, cheesy and at the same time predictable for your likes. The resemblance does not come into play for Michelle and James with the younger actors when you go concerned about it. But imagining if that Paul Walker who was the original choice, without Luke in mind, then what might have happened? He might look more like Health Ledger despite of his original character.

But if you forget about small flaws that were found in this too good of a true concept, The Best Of Me totally manages to strike a tight chord. And we can give credits to Gerald McRaney and Michelle Monaghan with their heartrending performances. McRaney’s Portrayal managed to show the portrayal that of Tuck which is tear-evoking.  And if you like the truly emotional outbursts which were shown in the end, you can give your credits to Michelle. And the actress smoothly and delicately managed all depicts with all the emotional upheaval involved with her character. It might be Michelle who steeled all the show even though Marsden did his performance with the mature act neatly. Wonder how James will pull the crowd!

With all the beautiful visuals you may prefer this film a worthy look.