The Best Man's Arrival: Timing And Traditions

The Best Man is the name of several films and a TV series. The first film, released in 1964, is a political drama directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. The second, released in 1999, is a comedy-drama film written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The Best Man Holiday, a sequel to the 1999 film, was released in 2013, followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, in 2022.

Harper Stewart is best man at Lance Sullivan's wedding

Harper Stewart is the best man at Lance Sullivan's wedding in the 1999 film "The Best Man", written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film is a comedy-drama starring Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart and Morris Chestnut as Lance Sullivan.

In the film, Harper is an up-and-coming author who travels to New York City to spend the weekend with old college friends before they all attend Lance's wedding. Harper's debut novel, "Unfinished Business", has been selected by Oprah's Book Club, but his girlfriend Robyn is frustrated by his reluctance to commit to her.

At the wedding, Harper reunites with his friends Julian "Murch" Murchison and Jordan Armstrong, the latter of whom is his ex-flame. Jordan gets hold of an advance copy of "Unfinished Business", which is based on Harper's friends, and Harper tries to keep this under wraps. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed and relationships are tested, but ultimately, Harper gives a heartfelt speech at the wedding, earning Lance's forgiveness.

The film was well-received by critics and was particularly praised for its strong cast and well-defined characters. It was followed by a Christmas-themed sequel, "The Best Man Holiday", in 2013, and a limited series, "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", in 2022.

The Best Man is a 1999 film

The Best Man is a 1999 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee in his directorial debut. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart and Nia Long as Jordan Armstrong, with the debut of Regina Hall as Candace "Candy" Sparks.

The film follows Harper, an up-and-coming author whose debut novel, Unfinished Business, has been selected by Oprah's Book Club. Harper travels to New York City to spend the weekend with old friends from college before they all attend the wedding of Lance Sullivan, a New York Giant, and Mia Morgan. Serving as the best man, Harper reunites with his friends Julian "Murch" Murchison and Jordan, who has shared an advance copy of Unfinished Business with their inner circle of friends—the book is based on this group.

The film explores the dynamics between Harper and his friends, including Jordan, with whom he shares a mutual attraction, and Quentin Spivey, a free spirit who can't settle down. It also delves into the tensions surrounding Murch's domineering girlfriend, Shelby, and the revelation that Harper had a one-night stand with Mia in college, causing a conflict with Lance, the groom.

The Best Man received mostly positive reviews from critics and was particularly praised for its strong cast and well-defined characters. The film has become a beloved classic, with a dedicated fan base that led to the creation of a sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in 2013, and a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which premiered in 2022.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters is a 2022 TV miniseries

The show picks up a few years after the events of The Best Man Holiday and centres around the group of friends, now in their late 40s/early 50s, as they navigate the complexities of middle age, including romance, family, and evolving relationships. The cast includes Morris Chestnut as Lance, Melissa De Sousa as Shelby, Taye Diggs as Harper, Regina Hall as Candace "Candy", Terrence Howard as Quentin, Sanaa Lathan as Robin, and Harold Perrineau as Julian "Murch".

The eight-episode series explores themes of mid-life career, health, and relationship struggles, as well as the characters' experiences of systemic racism. It received positive reviews, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was praised for its relatable storylines and exploration of the characters' individual journeys.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters serves as a fitting conclusion to the beloved franchise, offering closure to the stories of the friends that audiences have come to know and love over the years.

The Best Man Holiday is a 2013 sequel

In the sequel, the friends reunite for a wedding, which serves as a backdrop for the exploration of their relationships and personal struggles. The film also continues the story of Harper (Diggs) and Lance (Chestnut), who were able to move past Harper's college romance with Mia (Monica Calhoun). Lance is struggling with the death of his wife, Mia, and Harper is facing challenges in his marriage to Robyn (Sanaa Lathan).

The film also explores the dynamics between other couples in the friend group, such as Julian (Perrineau) and Candace (Hall), who are dealing with issues related to Candace's career and their marriage. Another unexpected pairing is that of Shelby (Melissa de Sousa) and Quentin (Howard), whose relationship provides comic relief in the film.

The Best Man Holiday received positive reviews from critics and was followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which premiered on Peacock in 2022. The series continues the story of the friend group and explores their lives in middle age, facing new challenges and complexities.

The Best Man is a 1964 political drama film

The Best Man is a 1964 American political drama film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, based on Gore Vidal's 1960 play of the same name. The film stars Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Lee Tracy, and features a supporting cast including Edie Adams, Margaret Leighton, Ann Sothern, Shelley Berman, Gene Raymond, and Kevin McCarthy.

The film centres on the nomination of a presidential candidate at a national convention of an unnamed political party. The two leading candidates, former Secretary of State William Russell (Fonda) and Senator Joe Cantwell (Robertson), are vying for the endorsement of the pragmatic yet dying former President Art Hockstader (Tracy). Russell is a principled intellectual haunted by past sexual indiscretions and a nervous breakdown, while Cantwell portrays himself as a populist "man of the people" and anti-communist, but is a ruthless opportunist willing to go to any lengths for the nomination.

As the candidates lobby for support, they both resort to mudslinging and underhanded tactics. Russell has access to a witness claiming Cantwell was gay, but refuses to use this against his rival. Cantwell, on the other hand, uses illegally obtained psychological reports to attack Russell. Despite their differences, neither man has enough votes to win, and the nomination remains uncertain.

The film offers a fascinating look at the seamy political manoeuvrings and dirty tactics employed in the pursuit of power. It raises questions about the integrity of politicians and the relevance of a candidate's personal life and mental health issues. With its outstanding cast and witty, insightful script by Vidal, "The Best Man" is a compelling and suspenseful portrayal of American politics, as relevant today as it was in 1964.

Frequently asked questions