The Best Men

Tired of so-called entertainment that left me feeling "empty, not entertained", I chose this movie as a possible "feel good" experience. The passion and fight for rehabilitation for disabled war veterans (once considered throw-aways) was thrilling. Intelligently presented, humorous; a visionary "fight for life" that uplifted me and reminded me of the good in the world. As an occasional cynic (i.e., an idealist who has lived long enough), I needed to be reminded of all that can be/has been accomplished when we fight for/build community, for whatever reason.

I had no idea that The Paralympic Games had its roots in the medical treatment of WWII vets. What an informative and beautiful movie about the 'best of men'- both the original spinal injury patients and the amazing Dr. Guttman. Their combined courage and stamina created one of the greatest forces for good in the world- the Paralympic Games. When my husband and I first chose this movie to watch, we had no idea what it was about. The storyline about the people themselves is so compelling that we thought the movie was about them and their person journeys. What a treat to find that there was more to the film! I love movies that have been written by such skilled writers that the dialog is so natural that you never notice it- even at the most intense, funny or moving moments, the conversation is natural. Good movies allow you to experience full immersion. 'Guttman' in German means, 'Good Man', so it's only appropriate for them to call this movie, 'The Best of Men.' I love that Dr. Guttman is a real historical figure- He has the kindest face with the merriest eyes. Eddie Marsan is the perfect actor for the part of Guttman. In fact, I felt that all the actors were well cast. You will L-O-V-E this movie. Only the most dull intellect can possibly be bored. Watch this movie and Enjoy!

I saw this short film in a collection many years ago and revisited it just today...and it's still a gem! There are standout elements that make it successful, because the story isn't new, but the telling of it here, is fresh. That freshness is mostly Michael Ellison, the best man, who is in love with his best friend. His acting is subtle and understated here, as it should be, but his skill is quite noticeable. I have seen him in other short films (see YouTube The Boy Nextdoor) and he is very good in that as well. The other standout element is the directing (Tony Wei) and photography. Jen Scatura's closing song sung by and co-composed by Mary Ann Marino, is wonderful, I love it.

I loved this so much. And bawled my eyes out. 😭😭😭 Eddie Marsan is amazing. They did a great job on all the acting, and scenery and settings. The movie does such a great job of showing that people with SCI are still people with hopes, and dreams. They still have things they want to accomplish. They want to be useful, needed, and have a purpose. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to live with a SCI in the 1940's and 50's. Even in just the past 20 years, so much has changed as far as equipment, medication, treatment, accessibility, etc. #SCIstrong

This is a great little short. I read the other reviews, but had no problem with sound at all. Sound quality was good, and I had no trouble hearing every word. And a great story line. This is not a feature-length movie, but a snapshot that briefly lets us look at the development of a friendship between two guys, and how the marriage complicates things. There is a lot of emotion in this little movie, and the characters are all very touching. $2.99 is what you pay for a hamburger, so not much of an investment in a great movie I would watch again and again.

Well made movie with heart, intelligence and, because it's based on a man's life, truth. The young men's characters are presented so that we really care about them. The doctor's confidence and strength of will are inspiring. We should all have such a person in our lives. Excellent movie. I didn't know who Dr. Guttman was and the impact he made until the end. The veterans at the residence where I showed this film thought highly of it.

A most excellent short film. It's a shame that most of the negative reviewers either had a bad experience with the sound, didn't realize how short the film was (and yes, I agree, $2.99 would be considered over-priced, but it's currently free for Prime members), or had a problem with the gay subtext. To me, everything about this film was exceptional, and left an emotional, deep-seeded impact on me. Best described as bittersweet. See Chipper F. Xavier's well-written 5-star review for more insight.

One of those small movies the Brits make often and well. The true story of a German Jew (And a very high level neurologist) who got out of Nazi Germany and found himself put to work rehabilitating British spinal injury soldiers during WW2. Inspiring, gripping and beautifully acted by all, especially Eddie Marsan. Well worth watching.