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Best of Enemies

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Best of Enemies R Released Jul 31, 2015 1h 28m Documentary Biography History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 121 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In 1968, ideological opposites William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal hold a series of riveting, nationally televised debates that usher in a new era of public discourse and pundit TV.
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Critics Consensus

Smart, fascinating, and funny, Best of Enemies takes a penetrating -- and wildly entertaining -- look back at the dawn of pundit politics.

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Critics Reviews

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Alissa Wilkinson Vox The result is exciting but also chilling - an origin story for a long national nightmare. Aug 20, 2020 Full Review Max Weiss Baltimore Magazine Almost obscenely entertaining. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 12, 2016 Full Review Jason Bailey Flavorwire If even these two witty, well-educated, well-mannered men of letters couldn't keep their on-air interactions from degenerating into cheap shots and name-calling, who could? May 27, 2016 Full Review Vadim Rizov Filmmaker Magazine I might be being oversensitive, but blandish docs like this one shouldn’t be given the benefit of the doubt. Jan 23, 2023 Full Review Michael J. Casey Michael J. Cinema It is how the success of these debates that makes 'Best of Enemies' all the more relevant. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 29, 2021 Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension As fun as Best of Enemies is - and it is a lot of fun - it leaves us with a bittersweet feeling about those ten nights... Jan 14, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David H A very interesting look at two larger-than-life characters. I have to say that I really dislike WF Buckley, though. What an obnoxious prick. Vidal is just as arrogant, sure, but at least he's not constantly making jokes about smashing people's faces in. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/14/23 Full Review John B Not terribly exciting, but it was an interesting look at these two combatants in their time and how they handled verbal discussions on political situations in the late 60's and early 70's with the Nixon Administration plus Regan Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Watch Judas and Jesus go at it. Which talking head is which? Dunno. But, they are madly in love with each other's politics, and their passion for each other's work is clear here. It gets squirmy watching them debate instead of bone. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Stephen G Fascinating glimpse of history, of the encounter that paved the way to much of what political media is today, and of its impact on the two men involved. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/21 Full Review paul d This is a wonderful documentary and worth seeing for anyone interested in the confluence of American political ideas and the media. I was a teenager during the 1968 conventions and watched them every night. I was later a political science student who read William F. Buckley Jr. extensively and watched Firing Line. I was also a fan of Vidal's later, historical novels, and read a lot about him after a visit to his home in Ravello. I saw them both in person. So, I have my own distinctive memories of the protagonists, and I think that the documentary does a good job of presenting them to a new generation, and mostly for its insight into the importance of television in that era as a shared experience - as explained in the film - for all Americans, and how we have fewer and fewer of those shared experiences today. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Came in with high hopes on this as I always enjoyed their debates but it ended up being a very meh time waster.. it's only barely over an hr and 20 some minutes so I didn't waste too much time. But it just feels this was leading to something good but it got lost halfway and never really recovered. The lame politizied talking heads were a pain to deal with and they weren't especially needed because they waste time with modern think points. The only commentators I liked were the personal people who knew both of them, and Dick Cavett especially was a hoot (the jab he had after the doc covered the Crypto Nazi fight was pure gold.) Having Litghow and Grammar as the two was fun but they were wasted as well. The only part the movie excells imo was the behind scenes footage of ABC News then.. now that was bloody fantastic. I'm a huge fan of ABC News pre 1978 so to see how they did things was really, really fun. Sadly they didn't show enough of that! UGH, I don't think the maker of this movie knew what they were wanting to do because this one was all over the map. I hope there is more footage around somewhere of ABC and it pops up on You Tube one day.. I'd love to see it. More so than this doc again sadly. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1968, ideological opposites William F. Buckley Jr. and Gore Vidal hold a series of riveting, nationally televised debates that usher in a new era of public discourse and pundit TV.
Director
Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon
Producer
Robert Gordon, Morgan Neville
Screenwriter
Robert Gordon, Tom Graves, Morgan Neville
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Production Co
Tremolo Productions, Media Ranch
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content/Nudity|Language)
Genre
Documentary, Biography, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 31, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 3, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$892.0K
Runtime
1h 28m
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