Home Entertainment Best

The film starts with Clive Anderson interviewing George Best (John Lynch) and Rodney Marsh (Roger Daltry) about their after dinner speeches that they do together. He also shows footage of George’s early career. You can almost see George wishing that he could go back to those days. The next after dinner talk that they are booked for is in Belfast, and it is later that night that George is told of the death of Sir Matt Busby (Ian Bannen). George hero worshipped Sir Matt, and he begins reminiscing about how it all started.............

That was the start of it all, George was an excellent player, the rest of the team knew it and milked it for all it was worth. It was also George’s downfall. He enjoyed the limelight, the adrenaline rush that it gave him, the adoration of the girls and the “free drinks” that went with being a celebrity.

Along the way Angie (Patsy Kensit) picks him up and enjoys his money and encourages the drinking and gambling. She subsequently leaves him when she finds him in bed with another woman. George has become arrogant, he knows he is the "BEST" everyone has told him so a million times.

Only now due to the booze, he is arriving late to train and his fellow team members are not so willing to put up with him now that he no longer shines. They start to complain about the amount of money he earns. The credit he receives for goals and his poor performance as of late. Sir Matt tries hard to help George, offering fatherly advice, making excuses for his prodigy and George understands why he is doing it and admires him all the more.

Eventually Sir Matt passes the leadership of Man United to someone else and can no longer cover for George, who is dropped immediately from the team. Angie left him and trashed his place; the police stopped him for driving while under the influence. He gambled and lost, he tried to pick up one woman who told him he was boring and he flipped.

The police came knocking at his door because he should have made a court appearance about his drink driving, and he had failed to turn up. He refused to open the door and in no time there were TV cameras and members of the public all waiting to see what he did. He sat in his flat reminiscing, watching old footage of his career and then opened the door and made a run for it. One reporter said that "unpredictable behaviour" was becoming George's life style.

Back to the present time, during the interview with Clive Anderson George says that after all the time at the top he had now reached rock bottom, he knew how good he was but couldn’t stop the rot.

John Lynch was a very believable Best, but Linus Roach for me stole the limelight, he played the part of Dennis law and seemed to fit naturally on the field or on crutches and also played the liaison man between the rest of the team and George. Jerome also turned in a very good performance as Sir Bobby Charlton. He was a striking figure on the field and portrayed the change of feelings very well. He went from providing George with all the glory, to being brassed off with him, to forgiving him at Matt’s funeral.

Reviews from the fans

All-in-all I enjoyed this film, it made me feel extremely sorry for George Best who came across as being very lonely and far away from home. It has shown me how easy it is to fall for the trappings of adoration and fame, but how hard it is to climb out of the pits of despair waiting around the corner when the world stops calling your name. Other reviews that I have read have slated this production. I have no footballing knowledge or film making insight, but I could see what they were trying to show and was grateful that it is was without fancy effects and strobe lighting that films have to have these days. I give it 8/10
Anne

I remember George Best coming on the scene, a fantastic footballer. He was as wild on the field as off, who can blame him you only get one shot at life. 'The Best Film' was a true and accurate portrayal of his life and very well acted. Jerome was excellent as Bobby Charlton the gentleman of football, Jerome was perfect for the part, I really enjoyed the film.
Molly

I watched the film and enjoyed every minute of it. Jerome played the part of Sir Bobby Charlton very well. A really enjoyable production.
Mandy

'Best' I have seen the film - it was on Sky a while back, but do remember it being very good. I was/still am a great fan of George Best and I am of the opinion that he was a brilliant footballer - far better than those of today who get extremely over inflated wages. I'm also a MU fan so again from that point of view the film was enjoyable. Additionally it was filmed on location at St Helens Rugby League ground and that is my home town. Didn't get to be an extra or go down to the ground when Jerome was there - I think I only found out about it when it was too late. Thought Jerome played a great part but oh that hair - it just didn't do anything for him at all. Goes to prove he's not at all vain. I did think the film was sad (from what I remember) in that (if it's accurate) MU didn't really handle the situation well at all and unwittingly contributed in some ways to his downfall. I dont think they looked after him particularly well. I just don't think they were equipped to. Hindsight is a great thing and I hope they have learned from it. In short I thought the film was good around 8 out of 10.
Wendy

Best was quite a good film about the ups and downs of George Best's life. I was glad it wasn't just about his football and it helps you gain more insight into why he turned alcoholic. It was a waste of his talent. I was however, left with mixed opinions. It was a good cast and I must admit I was amused when I first saw Jerome a bit thin on top.
Leanne

The life story of former Manchester United football legend George Best

Director - Mary McGuckian
Producers - Elvira Bolz, Mary McGuckian, Chris Roff
Screenplay - John Lynch, Mary McGuckian
Cinematography - Witold Stok
Editor - Kant Pan Casting - John Hubbard, Ros Hubbard
Production Design - Max Gottlieb
Music Composed and Conducted by Mark Stevens
Orchestrated by Terry Davies
Cast includes - John Lynch, Jerome Flynn, Ian Bannen Patsy Kensit,
Stephen Fry, Roger Daltry, Linus Roach,
Cal Macaninch, Ian Hart and Adrian Lester

We would like to say Thank You to the fans that sent us their 'reviews' and also to Anne for all her hard work.

Developed with the co-operation of George Best himself, and co-written and produced by film-makers Mary McGuckian and John Lynch.

Best himself acted as a consultant during the making of the film and backed the filmmakers' proposals to make the film from the outset.