Best Sellers

A struggling publisher accompanies a cranky old author on his final book tour. Stars Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza.

Decent performances in this comedy drama but the plot is not strong enough to make this more than a mediocre film.

There are a couple interesting plot twists but overall it's not that moving or indeed that entertaining.

I have just finished watching this movie, and anything with Michael Caine in his winter years is worth seeing, his characters played over the decades has appealed to audiences across generations.

I didn't honestly feel this was time lost and enjoyed his latest performance, and all the character actors in the movie didn't disappoint,there have been several publisher movies over the past decades,with different themes,with the American ideal, all about the bucks, this particular work had that varnish sprinkled with pathos and humor.

Michael Caine makes it all seem so natural and beautiful. And Plaza is like the cherry on top, she's always at her best.

Lucy Stanbridge (Aubrey Plaza) is struggling to maintain her book publishing father's legacy. Her books are being skewered by critics and Jack Sinclair (Scott Speedman) is trying to buy her out. She and her assistant Rachel Spence (Ellen Wong) discover an old contract with legendary writer Harris Shaw (Michael Caine). Harris wrote a groundbreaking blockbuster with her father but nothing more. In the contract, he owes the company one more book and she forces the sickly drunken writer to do a book tour.

The first half is trying to be a slightly comedic road trip with Plaza doing Plaza. It's a bit uneven and clunky. It's not until Aubrey throws up into the bowl that the movie finds its heart. The second half is much better for it. I'm not sure if this is a realistic book publishing world but at least, the movie is trying. One does need to stick with this movie for awhile before it gets good.

Best Sellers won't disappoint much people. There's a captivating story, sometimes sentimental, sometimes funny, and some good actors. For the funny parts it was mostly due to the character of Ellen Wong, for the sentimental parts the difficult relarionship between Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza. Ellen Wong had a smaller part but was funny. Michael Caine (already 88 years old) still has it. Audrey Plaza in a slightly different role that we're normally used of did okay. I can't say I was bored by this movie, on the contrary it's an engaging story easy to follow. Best Sellers isn't a fast paced action movie, it's rather slow, a lot of conversations, but they all add something to the emotional story.