The Best of Men

The best of men is a really high quality production from the BBC about the remarkable life of Ludwig Guttman. The man credited with being the founder of the para Olympics, but there was far more to this man. His treatment of spinal chord injuries both during and after WW2 helped save and change people's lives the world over. Not only keeping them alive but giving them a purpose and a will to live whether it be through sport work and the arts. The best of men really only scratches the surface of this mans contribution to medicine and the world in general. Nevertheless this is a terrific piece of work. 9/10

I had this saved in my queue on Netflix for quite some time and finally watched it this evening. I'm very glad I finally got around to checking it out. I was surprised to come to this site and see only two reviews.

Based on a true story, it describes the pioneering work of Dr Ludwig Guttmann with paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. It is a made for TV movie but in my opinion it had more of a major motion picture feel.

I'm really not much on writing reviews, but felt compelled to do so for this title. Well written, well shot and an unbelievably inspiring story. I can't recommend it more highly.

Based on a true story, this is a well acted, moving and occasionally funny drama with a great cast. Eddie Marsan rarely disappoints and is typically good here - I can't attest to the quality of his German accent - but he presents Dr Guttmann as a somewhat obsessive and eccentric but highly dedicated champion of individualised medicine. Rob Brydon is good too as the acerbic Welshman who hides his fear in humour. George Mackay is perfectly cast as the young soldier on an emotional journey, struggling to cope with his new disabilities.

What stands out most, for me, is the realistic interaction of the men and women on the ward. There is plenty of banter and innuendo and the sexual politics seem relatively realistic for the time period.

I note that this was made by the BBC in 2012. My suspicions are that if this was made today the Diversity police would render it farcically ahistorical in order to be 'sensitive' - this would not only dishonour those portrayed, but given that the message of the story is that compassion sometimes involves tough decisions and not treating people like victims, such contemporary representation would make the story pointless.

Eddie Marsan would have to be in my top 10 favourite actors. He seems to put out strong performance time after time and surely destined for an Oscar one of these days.

The Best of Men is a TV movie, but has nothing in common with other TV movies - it really feels like an actual film. Albeit one that is perhaps a little too short.

It's one of the most feel-good and inspiring films I've seen in a long time. Highly recommend it!

I wish Dr. Ludwig Guttmann was my doctor.

This movie was the telling of a story of a man dedicated to repairing broken bodies, broken mental/emotional minds and broken spirits. It is a movie that shows what offering hope can do to help heal the ravishes of devastation. It's hard to find a movie today that provides inspiration. Story tellers and movie makers today like the shock and awe effect, believing they have created "art" when in reality it's just another pathetic formula story. So my hat is off to the story tellers and actors of this movie. You made me feel good and to realize there are good people out there!