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"Best of Enemies"
HHH
U.S. Documentary
The wry documentary "Best of Enemies" takes us on a welcome nostalgia trip to a particular moment in 1968, where the roots of pundit-centric media and our intractable left/right political divide first launched. Gearing up for the party conventions. low-rated ABC didn't have the money for gavel-to-gavel coverage — but they did have the idea of getting Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley to debate the issues for 10 nights that summer. Directors Morgan Neville ("20 Feet From Stardom") and Robert Gordon draw some fond remembrances from friends and confidantes, about how both men truly despised the other, but were the only ones erudite enough to appreciate each other's talents. The footage of the actual debates, culminating in Vidal calling Buckley a "crypto-Nazi" and Buckley threatening to punch Vidal, are the treasure of this fast-paced time trip.
- Sean P. Means
"Best of Enemies" is screening in the U.S. Documentary competition of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. It screens again: Saturday, noon, The Grand Theatre, Salt Lake City; Sunday, 7 p.m., Redstone Cinema 2, Park City; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., Prospector Square Theatre, Park City; Saturday, Jan. 31, 2:30 p.m., The MARC, Park City.