Second Best

1994
12
1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:58

2 Videos

17 Photos

Drama

Graham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the ... Read allGraham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the two be able to accept each other as family?Graham, a lonely Welsh postal worker, adopts James, a troubled ten-year-old boy. Graham always wanted a son, but James loves his biological father too much to give Graham a chance. Will the two be able to accept each other as family?

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

Videos2

Photos17

+ 10

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Several reviews claimed that this film is set in Wales, and a Welsh town was the chief location for the movie, but the setting is, in fact, never specified and the accents of the actors in the film cover a wide area across Britain. Although the American William Hurt was praised for learning a Welsh accent, he actually sounds more like an Englishman from the West Country. It is noticeable that all the road signs seen in the film are only in English, whereas road signs in Wales are always in both English and Welsh.

Quotes
[Remembering his mother's death]
Graham: Dad wasn't making much sense. His hands were like injured birds looking for a safe place to roost.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Only You/Second Best/Pulp Fiction (1994)

Soundtracks
Imagination
Written and Performed by Simon Boswell
Published by Sunfun Ltd.

User reviews26

Review

Featured review

8/10

an overlooked but terrific film

William Hurt is an interesting actor. Although he has made many money making Hollywood films, he seems to enjoy also making small artistic films that MUST bring him a lot less money but perhaps more personal satisfaction. Among these many "little" films he has done is Second Best--an odd little film well worth watching. Is it a perfect film? Certainly not. At times, it is a bit slow and emotionally sterile--though this is needed due to the type man Hurt is portraying. For some inexplicable reason (it would have been nice to know more about WHY), Welshman Hurt decides to take in a hard to adopt boy with the intention of adopting him. Because the boy has lots of emotional baggage, they do not easily bond and their relationship is strained. However, just because there are these awkward moments, do not stop watching--the payoff is there and the characters are much more realistic (with all their foibles) than what you are usually given in a typical movie!