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Best (1999)
Director: Mary McGuckian
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
From the opening - a studio mock-up ringing to awkward laughter, where an embarrassed George Best (Lynch, subdued), minded by fellow footballer Rodney Marsh (Daltrey), defends his reputation to interviewer Clive Anderson - the uneasy tone of this part tribute (Best served as script consultant), part history of the great Manchester United player is established. It's a familiar tale: of a boy uprooted (he was taken from Belfast as a 15-year-old), his long wait, his glory years on the field, his 'pop' celebrity, his women (represented by Kensit's Anna), and then the long, slow descent as gambling and booze take over. The film is scrappily put together, the re-creations of the great footballing moments don't work, the 30-year 'father-son' relationship of Best and Matt Busby (Bannen) is overly drawn out, and the whole is slightly seedy and unenlightening. Lynch's professional gives the impression of a completely unremarkable man as much damned as blessed by an extraordinary talent.Author: WH
Cast & crew
Director: Mary McGuckian
Producer: Mary McGuckian, Chris Roff, Elvira Bolz
Cast: John Lynch, Ian Bannen, Jerome Flynn, Ian Hart, Patsy Kensit, Cal MacAninch, Linus Roache, Adrian Lester, David Hayman, James Ellis, Roger Daltrey, Stephen Fry, Clive Anderson full cast
Duration: 106 mins
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