Product Details

• Actors: Joe Pantoliano, Boyd Gaines, Peter Gerety, Bronson Pinchot, Matthew Arkin
• Directors: Eric Weber
• Writers: Eric Weber
• Producers: Joe Pantoliano, Anthony Katagas, Callum Greene, Doug Torres, Pamela Hirsch
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Velocity / Thinkfilm
• DVD Release Date: November 15, 2005
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000B5XP2O
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,661 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Second Best" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Elliot Kelman (JOE PANTOLIANO) is a failed publishing executive who can’t get back into business. He supports himself selling suits at the local mall and relies on hand-outs from his mother, ex-wife, and son. He also self-publishes a weekly newsletter on the perils of self-delusion. Afraid his writings will be rejected, he hires a high school kid to post them on supermarket bulletin boards and stuff them under windshields in his New Jersey hometown.

After he meets the sexy Carole (JENNIFER TILLY) and his newsletter begins to find an audience, things start looking up for Elliot. However, the return home of his oldest friend Richard (BOYD GAINES), a prominent movie producer, and the only one of his friends to have found success, brings Elliot’s feeling of inadequacy and squandered potential back to the surface. With Richard in town, the competitive tensions rise, and once Carole takes an interest in his friend, Elliot must confront his envy of Richard’s success and his disenchantment with his own failure.

Second Best is a dark comedy that offers insight into men’s expectations of success, financially, sexually and otherwise, and provides a glimpse into what men actually talk about when women aren’t around. This is a film that explores how a generation of men who were expected to achieve their dreams can ultimately overcome the reality of falling short of them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazed I hadn't heard of it, March 12, 2006

By	K. Flood "007bondwoman" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really enjoyed the movie. Here is this dysfunctional loser that reminds me a little of me, of my firends, there are very real feelings wrapped into this movie, he screws up, tests of friendship. I enjoyed the journey.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie about the reality of a man's professional success, April 8, 2009

By	ChancesR "ChancesR" (Maine) - See all my reviews

This fabulous out take in time is shot through with ripe language and the visual images they leave behind. Men are men and we all know that but this film shows the visceral vulnerability that the latter stages of life, bring to the table, when careers go bad and health fails.

A perfect encapsulation of life and especially men and their attitudes towards themselves, their buddies - and what remains of their worlds. It is a keeper of a film and never got the notice it definitely deserves.

5.0 out of 5 stars It might be lost on you., December 8, 2008

By	kolleen bowers "KBfromPA" (Phila, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Second Best is a five star - just trust me. It is painfully, but touchingly poignant and in a rarely seen way. If you don't like any of the above adjectives then move along. If you do - just trust me, it's well worth your time.