Best of Enemies-2015

Directors Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon

Starring William F. Buckley Jr., Gore Vidal

Scott’s Review #467

Reviewed August 19, 2016

Grade: B

Best of Enemies is a 2015 documentary that transports viewers back to the 1960s, specifically 1968, during the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries.

I found the documentary to be a nice little history lesson for me, since 1968 was before my time, and my viewing date (2016) was perfect, as we were in the midst of an intense presidential race.

This is an adequate slice of political debate and rivalry with differing ideologies among the central figures.

At that time, ABC Primetime News was a floundering network that needed something to attract viewers and compete with competitors, the much higher-rated CBS and NBC.

This was a time when audiences had merely three networks of news offerings to choose from.

The documentary notes that television’s power in 1968 was intense and still new. I look back fondly on the limited network choices then, compared to the oodles of offerings now.

Still, everyone watched the same programming, which, it could be argued, led to better conversations the next day.

ABC concocted a scheme to bring together two bitter rivals, ultra-conservative William F. Buckley and ultra-liberal Gore Vidal. The pair, obviously of differing opinions, reportedly despised each other, and the possibilities were electric.

I found the documentary very genuine. In 1968, reality television and mock feuds to garner ratings didn’t exist.

Their heated debates are now legendary, and they felt authentic.

The documentary is told in a structured way.

Buckley and Vidal faced off during ten primaries: five in the Republican primary in Florida and five in the Democratic primary in Chicago.

Beyond their blowups, the conversations crackled with intelligence, with both men passionate and well-educated in their views.

Best of Enemies also gives an overview of Vidal and Buckley and how they each came to achieve their respective fame.

The documentary intersperses interviews with family members, colleagues, and friends among the constant barbs as the debates rage on.

A moment during the final democratic debate that would cement the loathing between Vidal and Buckley for decades to come.

Continuing to debate with a snarky, condescending tone by both, tensions came to a head as Vidal referenced Buckley as a Nazi, and Buckley, in turn, called Vidal a queer and threatened to sock him in the mouth.

The hatred in both men’s eyes is legendary, as their rivalry knew no boundaries. The fact that this all took place on live television (before tape delay censors) made it all the more shocking.

Strangely, the documentary uses narrated voices by Kelsey Grammer and John Lithgow for Buckley and Vidal, respectively, for a few segments. I found this rather unnecessary and even distracting. The voices surmised what each felt at the time, and it didn’t work.

This documentary shows the real birth of political pundits (now a dime a dozen) and the realism of television at the time, still rather novel.

Today it is filled with outrageous people and those looking for their ten seconds of fame.

Best of Enemies (2015) shows us television’s authenticity in its early days and, sadly, reminds us what it has become.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Documentary Feature