Best of Me

About Best of Me

"Best of Me" is a 2014 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Hoffman and written by Will Fetters and J. Mills Goodloe, based on Nicholas Sparks' 2011 novel of the same name. The plot revolves around Dawson and Amanda, two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart when they return to their small town for the funeral of a dear friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they've never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart twenty years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today.

Making / Production

The film was produced by Denise Di Novi and Nicholas Sparks. Production companies include Relativity Media, Di Novi Pictures and Surefire Entertainment Capital. The film was shot on location in Louisiana, including Slidell, Pearl River, and Covington.

Actors

• James Marsden as Dawson Cole - Marsden brilliantly portrays a man torn apart by love and loyalty. His character is emotionally complex and deep, and Marsden's performance adds depth to Dawson's character.
• Michelle Monaghan as Amanda Collier - Monaghan's role as Amanda is touching and sincere. She does a great job at playing a woman who’s haunted by past love and present realities.
• Luke Bracey as Young Dawson - Bracey delivers a convincing performance as the younger version of Dawson, reflecting the innocence and conflicts of the character.
• Liana Liberato as Young Amanda - Liberato accurately portrays young Amanda's personality, perfectly capturing the joy and pain of first love.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the second film James Marsden has been in which is adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel. The first was 'The Notebook'.
• The character Dawson was named after the "Creek" in Dawson's Creek (1998), as a tribute to Kevin Williamson, who is a friend of the author Nicholas Sparks.
• In a plot element not found in the original book, Gerald McRaney's character's name, Tuck, was given a decease, metastatic melanoma, to provide an emotional backbone to the story.

Quotes

• “Trust your heart, Dawson. It knows everything.” – Tuck Hostetler
• “You want me to fall back in love with you? How do I do that when I haven't ever stopped?” – Amanda Collier
• “Everyone wanted us to be together. Everyone. But you.” – Dawson Cole

Music, Soundtrack

• "I Did with You" by Lady Antebellum
• "Dream Girl" by Hunter Hayes
• "Hold On" by SHEL and Gareth Dunlop
• "Love Is A Liar" by Kacey Musgraves
• "Crossroads" by Phoebe Hoffman