Best of Enemies

2015 • 88 minute

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In the summer of 1968 television news changed forever. Dead last in the ratings, ABC hired two towering public intellectuals to debate each other during the Democratic and Republican national conventions. William F. Buckley Jr. was a leading light of the new conservative movement. A Democrat and cousin to Jackie Onassis, Gore Vidal was a leftist novelist and polemicist. Armed with deep-seated distrust and enmity, Vidal and Buckley believed each other’s political ideologies were dangerous for America. Like rounds in a heavyweight battle, they pummeled out policy and personal insult-their explosive exchanges devolving into vitriolic name-calling. Live and unscripted, they kept viewers riveted. Ratings for ABC News skyrocketed, and a new era in public discourse was born.

Graderings en resensies

"An argument is like sugar and the rest of us are like flies." Quote from the former NBC president. I learned from this documentary how the media latched on to this idea of imagery vs illumination - catering to a public's base need for schadenfreude and tribalism vs illumination and true national alignment. Both Mr. Vidal and M.r Buckley allude to this point at the end of this documentary. This makes the watching of this documentary useful if not impactful for those of us who wish for a more elevated media who informs rather than mesmerizes with inane and small minded 'party talk'.

I love Gore Vidal. Buckley is an entertaining genius. I love the research and discipline that went into making it, the minimum of talking heads. It's brilliant. It may be non-fiction, but it's a movie. The end is essentially profound. I won't spoil it by saying more. Genius upon genius from the subject to the directing! Bravo!

Watched this documentary in the Savannah Film Festival. A must see for all Broadcast Journalists and students.