The Best Man (2005)
Encyclopedia
The Best Man is a comedy
film starring Stuart Townsend
, Amy Smart
, Seth Green
and Kate Ashfield
. It was directed by Stefan Schwartz from a script by Schwartz and Ed Roe.
Olly writes the two first chapters of a novel, and an editor pays him $50,000 to have it finished. But he gets writers' block, so he loses all his money. He finds a job in London as assistant to Dana, an editor of self-help books for women.
James is going to marry in London and gives a party which he invites Olly to. Olly arrives late, and gets covered in pigeon droppings in Trafalgar Square. He changes into some women's trousers, which get broken. James wants Olly to be his best man and write a good-fun speech.
Olly feels out of place at the party. He is told off by Becka, the rightful owner of his trousers, and to Sarah without knowing she's James' girlfriend. Olly falls in love with Sarah while looking at the wonderful urban landscape, but James thinks he's fallen in love with Becka.
Stan gives Olly a hard-core magazine for Murray.
Harry, Tania and barrister Graham discuss the matter in the pub. Murray will see to it that the wedding will be cancelled.
Murray phones Sarah in Olly's behalf and they fix a date to see a film. Murray makes Sarah believe James is still a womanizer. Murray also sets Olly up with Sarah in Selfridges to see to the wedding list. He also phones James several times from Stan's porn shop, and appears at Becka and Sarah's flat saying that James has decided to sell it.
Back at Selfriges, Olly watches in amazement how Dana tries on a wedding dress although she's supposed to be already married and in a meeting. Dana gives Olly the sack next day. Graham talks to her trying to convince her to give Olly his job back. He doesn't convince her, but he ends up with a date with her.
Sarah find some unknown red knickers which Murray had hidden to frame James, and she find the porn shop phone number in James' mobile phone, so she calls the wedding off.
Murray gives a surprise party for Olly- everybody is there except James. Murray admits he's plotted everything. Olly writes a letter for Sarah on James' behalf. James is going to make-believe that he's leaving for New York broken-hearted. Sarah falls in the trap and she says she'll marry him. Olly thinks he's done the right thing.
Murray tells Olly that James has shagged somebody while already on a relationship with Sarah, but he doesn't believe it.
Olly goes to James' stag party, which is a bit wild with two policewomen-dresses strippers. James admits that he has been unfaithful to Sarah, because she can't satisfy him completely, but he wants to marry her because her family has money and connections, and she's pretty. Olly wants to tell Sarah, but James handcuffs him to a pillar.
When he gets free, he goes to the wedding place, preventing another wedding to happen while on his way. Murray is making a fool of himself trying to earn some time. Olly finally arrives, and with the help of Becka, who says that James has been unfaithful with his secretary and she blames another girl. Finally, Sarah calls off the wedding.
Six months later, Becka and Murray get married, and Olly and Sarah end up together. Olly returns to writing and he authors a best-seller.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film starring Stuart Townsend
Stuart Townsend
Stuart Townsend is an Irish actor and director. His most notable portrayals are of the characters Lestat de Lioncourt in the 2002 film adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned, and Dorian Gray in the 2003 film adaptation of Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.-Early life and...
, Amy Smart
Amy Smart
Amy Lysle Smart is an American television and film actress and former fashion model.-Early life:Smart was born in Topanga, California. Her mother, Judy Lysle , worked at a museum, and her father, John Boden Smart, was a salesman...
, Seth Green
Seth Green
Seth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
and Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.-Biography:Ashfield was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England...
. It was directed by Stefan Schwartz from a script by Schwartz and Ed Roe.
Plot
Childhood friends Olly Pickering and Murray go their separate ways Olly goes to university. Olly meets James there. Murray vomits all over James, creating an instant enmity between them.Olly writes the two first chapters of a novel, and an editor pays him $50,000 to have it finished. But he gets writers' block, so he loses all his money. He finds a job in London as assistant to Dana, an editor of self-help books for women.
James is going to marry in London and gives a party which he invites Olly to. Olly arrives late, and gets covered in pigeon droppings in Trafalgar Square. He changes into some women's trousers, which get broken. James wants Olly to be his best man and write a good-fun speech.
Olly feels out of place at the party. He is told off by Becka, the rightful owner of his trousers, and to Sarah without knowing she's James' girlfriend. Olly falls in love with Sarah while looking at the wonderful urban landscape, but James thinks he's fallen in love with Becka.
Stan gives Olly a hard-core magazine for Murray.
Harry, Tania and barrister Graham discuss the matter in the pub. Murray will see to it that the wedding will be cancelled.
Murray phones Sarah in Olly's behalf and they fix a date to see a film. Murray makes Sarah believe James is still a womanizer. Murray also sets Olly up with Sarah in Selfridges to see to the wedding list. He also phones James several times from Stan's porn shop, and appears at Becka and Sarah's flat saying that James has decided to sell it.
Back at Selfriges, Olly watches in amazement how Dana tries on a wedding dress although she's supposed to be already married and in a meeting. Dana gives Olly the sack next day. Graham talks to her trying to convince her to give Olly his job back. He doesn't convince her, but he ends up with a date with her.
Sarah find some unknown red knickers which Murray had hidden to frame James, and she find the porn shop phone number in James' mobile phone, so she calls the wedding off.
Murray gives a surprise party for Olly- everybody is there except James. Murray admits he's plotted everything. Olly writes a letter for Sarah on James' behalf. James is going to make-believe that he's leaving for New York broken-hearted. Sarah falls in the trap and she says she'll marry him. Olly thinks he's done the right thing.
Murray tells Olly that James has shagged somebody while already on a relationship with Sarah, but he doesn't believe it.
Olly goes to James' stag party, which is a bit wild with two policewomen-dresses strippers. James admits that he has been unfaithful to Sarah, because she can't satisfy him completely, but he wants to marry her because her family has money and connections, and she's pretty. Olly wants to tell Sarah, but James handcuffs him to a pillar.
When he gets free, he goes to the wedding place, preventing another wedding to happen while on his way. Murray is making a fool of himself trying to earn some time. Olly finally arrives, and with the help of Becka, who says that James has been unfaithful with his secretary and she blames another girl. Finally, Sarah calls off the wedding.
Six months later, Becka and Murray get married, and Olly and Sarah end up together. Olly returns to writing and he authors a best-seller.
Cast
- Stuart TownsendStuart TownsendStuart Townsend is an Irish actor and director. His most notable portrayals are of the characters Lestat de Lioncourt in the 2002 film adaptation of Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned, and Dorian Gray in the 2003 film adaptation of Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.-Early life and...
as Olly Pickering - Raphael Schwartz as Olly Aged 2
- Jacob Moriarty as Olly Aged 10
- Callum Williams as Murray Aged 10
- Seth GreenSeth GreenSeth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
as Murray - Steve John ShepherdSteve John Shepherd-Career:Shepherd first became known in 1996, when he played the role of Jo, the law clerk, in the critically acclaimed BBC drama This Life. He remained in the role for two series...
as James - Simon CallowSimon CallowSimon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...
as Big-Time Publisher - Jodhi MayJodhi MayJodhi May is an English actress.-Early life:Born in Camden Town, London, May first acted at the age of 12 in 1988's A World Apart. The role earned her a Best Actress award at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, shared with her co-stars Barbara Hershey and Linda Mvusi...
as Tania - Máté Haumann (as Mate Haumann) as Work Experience
- Anna ChancellorAnna Chancellor-Family:Chancellor was born in Richmond, London, England, the daughter of the Hon. Mary Alice Jolliffe and John Paget Chancellor. Through her mother's mother, Lady Perdita Rose Mary Asquith, Chancellor is the great-granddaughter of The Hon. Raymond Aquith and the great-great-granddaughter of Prime...
as Dana - Burn GormanBurn GormanBurn Hugh Gorman is an American-born English actor and musician. Burn is best known for his roles as Owen Harper in Torchwood and as William Guppy in Bleak House.-Personal life:...
as Bus Driver - Ian Hanmore as Drunk
- Raymond CoulthardRaymond CoulthardRaymond Coulthard is an English actor, best known for his roles as Alasdair Sinclair in the popular ITV soap opera Emmerdale and restaurant manager James Schofield in Hotel Babylon....
as Chris - Mike KellyMike KellyMike Kelly is a columnist for The Record, a newspaper serving Bergen County, New Jersey. He is also the author of Color Lines: The Troubled Dreams of Racial Harmony in an American Town, a book about the 1990 shooting in Teaneck, New Jersey of Phillip Pannell, an African-American teenager, by Gary...
as Party Bore - Philip JacksonPhilip JacksonPhilip, Phillip or Phil Jackson may refer to:* Philip Jackson , British actor, played Chief Inspector Japp* Philip Jackson , Royal Sculptor...
as Mr. Barker - Kate AshfieldKate AshfieldKate Ashfield is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.-Biography:Ashfield was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England...
as Becka - Amy SmartAmy SmartAmy Lysle Smart is an American television and film actress and former fashion model.-Early life:Smart was born in Topanga, California. Her mother, Judy Lysle , worked at a museum, and her father, John Boden Smart, was a salesman...
as Sarah Marie Barker - Martin HancockMartin HancockMartin Hancock is an English actor well known for his role as Emily Bishop's nephew Geoffrey "Spider" Nugent in the British soap Coronation Street and Reg Lund in Holby City....
as Stan - Stewart Wright as Harry
- David OyelowoDavid Oyelowo- Background :Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England of Nigerian descent. He is married to actress Jessica Oyelowo and they have three sons.Oyelowo first attended a youth theatre after being invited by a girl to whom he was attracted. He then studied Theatre Studies for A level and his teacher...
as Graham - Zsofi Taglesir as Bar Customer
- John Fenner as Bartender
- Béla Pavletits as Waiter
- Judit Viktor as Sexy Girl
- Cheryl Lucas as Gospel Singer
- Matt Devere as Gordon
- Lili BordánLili BordánLili Bordán is a Hungarian American film and television actress. She is currently starring as Dr. Beka Kelly in the upcoming Battlestar Galactica prequel, entitled Blood & Chrome.-Early life:...
as Gretchen - Keara Murphy as Ellen
- Linda Fekete as Sue
- Jane HowJane HowJane Onslow How is an English actress with a range of television,film and stage credits. In 1977 she married actor Mark Burns and had a son Jack in 1981...
as Ms Parker - Janine Wood as Dress Assistant
- Imre Józsa as Security Guard
- Lukács Bicskey (as Lukacs Bicskey) as Thief
- Linda Abla Okon as Waitress
- Peter CapaldiPeter CapaldiPeter Dougan Capaldi is an Academy Award and BAFTA award winning Scottish actor and film director. In 1995, his short film Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life won the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film...
as Priest - Bettina Abiwu as Stripper 1
- Andrea Bajor as Stripper 2
- Daniel MaysDaniel Mays-Early life:One of four boys, Mays was raised in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, by his electrician father and bank cashier mother. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts before going on to win a place at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Career:...
as Pool Guy - George Mendel as Wedding Guest
- Richard Durden as Reverend
- Tom Ellis as Groom
- Akiya Henry (as Akia Henry) as Bride
- Aranka Rónai (as Aranka Ronai)as Secretary
- Katalin Botos (as Kata Botos) as Other Girl
- Kylie MinogueKylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
(archive footage) as Herself
Music
- "Vanishing Point" — James Edward BarkerJames Edward BarkerJames Edward Barker is a British composer, music producer and film producer. Many of his music works include the hybrid mixture of sonic experimentation with grandiose classical motifs.-Biography:...
& Tim Despic - "Think I Am You" — James Edward Barker & Tim Despic
- "Stop Signs" — James Edward Barker & Tim Despic
- "Best Dream" — James Edward Barker & Tim Despic
- "Left Alone Among the Living" — SpearmintSpearmintMentha spicata syn. M. cordifolia is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
- "Beautiful Thing" — SpearmintSpearmintMentha spicata syn. M. cordifolia is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
- "You Were Always Happy" — SpearmintSpearmintMentha spicata syn. M. cordifolia is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
- "Perfect Love Song" — The Divine ComedyThe Divine ComedyThe Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature...
- "Breathe Me" — SiaSia-People:*Sia Berkeley , British actress*Sia Figiel , Samoan novelist, poet and painter*Sia Furler , Australian singer...
- "Hurry Up Let's Go" — Shout Out Alouds
- "Boys Will Be Boys" — The Ordinary BoysThe Ordinary BoysThe Ordinary Boys are an English indie rock band from Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Originally named Next in Line, they were influenced by mod revival and Britpop music, as well as the bands Madness, The Specials, The Kinks and The Smiths...
- "Jerk It Out" — Caesars
- "Light and Day/Reach for the Sun" — The Polyphonic SpreeThe Polyphonic SpreeThe Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
- "Lager n Lime" — The BlueskinsThe BlueskinsThe Blueskins are a four-piece band based in Gawthorpe, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.-Career:The band was formed after Spendlove and Brown met at music college in 1999. After college they continued to play together and drafted in school friends Smith and Townsend. In 2003 considerable interest in...
- "Somewhere Across Forever" — Stellastarr*
- "Into the Fire" — Thirteen SensesThirteen SensesThirteen Senses are a post-britpop band from Penzance, Cornwall. The group released the album The Invitation on 27 September 2004, along with several singles: "Thru the Glass", "Do No Wrong", "Into the Fire" and "The Salt Wound Routine", of which the first three have reached the UK Top 40...
- "Pain on Pain" — FeederFeeder-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
- "Less Talk More Action" — Time Delux
- "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" — Belle & Sebastian
- "George" — Veneration Music
- "Best Loop" — Veneration Music
- "Best Up 12" — Veneration Music
- "Think I Am You (x2 Remix)" — Veneration Music