Best of Enemies (2015)
| Title | Best of Enemies |
| Year | 2015 |
| Country | USA |
| Genre | Documentary (Movies) |
| Run Time | 1h 27 min |
| Director |
The American documentary film Best of Enemies (2015), co-directed by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville, delves into the televised debates between intellectuals Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 United States presidential election. Despite facing challenges in funding, securing interviews, and uncovering archival footage, the film was successfully completed after five years. Critics have given Best of Enemies high praise, with a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 118 reviews and an average score of 7.61/10. According to the website’s consensus, the film is ‘smart, fascinating, and funny’, providing a compelling look back at the emergence of pundit politics. Metacritic also shows positive reception for the film, with a rating of 77 out of 100 based on 21 critics’ reviews.
The documentary delves into the series of televised debates in August 1968 between Buckley and Vidal, which were overseen by anchorman Howard K. Smith as part of ABC News coverage of both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. It zeroes in on a particular incident of verbal attacks launched by Vidal and Buckley during the Democratic convention, and then follows their reactions and decisions afterward. This includes articles they wrote for Esquire magazine, as well as the legal battle that ensued over several years. Additionally, it examines the far-reaching effects of these debates on the emergence of contemporary American punditry.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  John LithgowGore Vidal  Kelsey GrammerWilliam F. Buckley |
The American documentary film Best of Enemies (2015), co-directed by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville, delves into the televised debates between intellectuals Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. during the 1968 United States presidential election. Despite facing challenges in funding, securing interviews, and uncovering archival footage, the film was successfully completed after five years. Critics have given Best of Enemies high praise, with a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 118 reviews and an average score of 7.61/10. According to the website’s consensus, the film is ‘smart, fascinating, and funny’, providing a compelling look back at the emergence of pundit politics. Metacritic also shows positive reception for the film, with a rating of 77 out of 100 based on 21 critics’ reviews.
The documentary delves into the series of televised debates in August 1968 between Buckley and Vidal, which were overseen by anchorman Howard K. Smith as part of ABC News coverage of both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. It zeroes in on a particular incident of verbal attacks launched by Vidal and Buckley during the Democratic convention, and then follows their reactions and decisions afterward. This includes articles they wrote for Esquire magazine, as well as the legal battle that ensued over several years. Additionally, it examines the far-reaching effects of these debates on the emergence of contemporary American punditry.
