In 1968, William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal — famous for their strong opinions about both politics and each other — were recruited by ABC to participate in a series of on-air debates during the major political parties’ conventions. The debates were famously contentious, rocketing ABC to the top of the ratings and solidifying, as this documentary argues, the future of hyperpartisan politics and entertainment-driven, shouting-head TV news punditry. Best of Enemies recounts the debates and their fallout. It’s exciting but also chilling — an origin story for a long national nightmare.
Best of Enemies
The chilling origin story for entertainment-driven political punditry (Netflix)
ABC Photo Archives
Alissa Wilkinson covered film and culture for Vox. Alissa is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Society of Film Critics.
”Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville’s masterful Best of Enemies leaves you with an overwhelming sense of despair. It’s not just a great documentary, it’s a vital one.” Bilge Ebiri, Vulture
Release date: July 31, 2015
Streaming on: Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu
Metacritic score: 77 out of 100
See More:
