Best of Enemies (2015 film)

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Best of Enemies
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Robert Gordon
  • Morgan Neville
Produced by
  • Julie Goldman
  • Clif Phillips
  • Caryn Capotosto
Cinematography
  • David Leonard
  • Mark Schwartzbard
  • Graham Willoughby
Edited by
  • Eileen Meyer
  • Aaron Wickenden
Music byJonathan Kirkscey
Production
companies
  • Media Ranch
  • Tremolo Productions
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 23, 2015 (2015-01-23) (Sundance)
  • July 31, 2015 (2015-07-31)
Running time
88 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$750,000[2]
Box office$904,119[3]

Best of Enemies is a 2015 American

Participant Media.[4]

The film took five years to make because of struggles to secure funding, get interviews, and uncover archival footage.[2]

Content

The film examines the ten televised debates between Buckley and Vidal in August 1968 that were moderated by anchorman

Miami Beach and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.[5] It especially focuses on a specific incident of on-air insults exchanged by Vidal and Buckley during the Democratic convention, and follows their subsequent thoughts and actions, including articles each wrote for Esquire magazine and the years-long litigation that resulted.[6] It also expands on the impact of these debates on the beginning of modern American punditry
.

Narrative cast

Reception

On December 1, 2015, the film was selected as one of 15 shortlisted for the

Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[9]

It premiered on PBS television series Independent Lens on October 3, 2016, during the run-up to the 2016 United States presidential election.[10]

Box office

The film debuted in three theatrical screens on July 31, 2015, as well as video-on-demand. It grossed $50,378 for a 37th-place finish. The second week saw an increase to 19 screens, resulting in a weekend gross of $81,587. Its highest weekend gross came in week three, where it had an expansion to 47 screens, resulting in a weekend gross of $120,986. The maximum number of screens was 69, in its fifth week, but the film went downhill in gross. The film had a 15-week theatrical run before closing on November 12, 2015, with a total of $892,802. The film had a one-week theatrical run in the United Kingdom the week before the film's US release, grossing $11,317 from 6 screens. As of 22 August 2018, the film has a worldwide total of $904,119.[11]

Critical response

Best of Enemies received very positive reviews from critics.

Q&A on July 26, 2015, with host Brian Lamb
to discuss the film.

Stage adaptation

In 2021, a play inspired by the film premiered at the Young Vic, written by James Graham.[15]

Soundtrack

The film was scored by cellist Jonathan Kirkscey.[16] The music used in the film's opening sequence is "Portofino" by Raymond Scott.[17]

References

  1. ^ "BEST OF ENEMIES (15)". British Board of Film Classification. July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
  2. ^ a b McCoy, Chris (August 13, 2015). "Best of Enemies". Memphis Flyer. Contemporary Media. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Best of Enemies". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  4. ^ Ge, Linda (January 28, 2015). "Gore Vidal Doc Best of Enemies Acquired by Magnolia, Participant Media". TheWrap. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  5. The Sundance Institute
    . Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  6. New York Review of Books
    . Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Leydon, Joe (January 23, 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Best of Enemies'". Variety. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Scott, A. O. (July 30, 2015). "Review: 'Best of Enemies' Recalls Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr.'s TV Battles". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  9. ^ Kojen, Natalie (December 1, 2015). "15 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES ADVANCE IN 2015 OSCAR® RACE". Oscars.org. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Best of Enemies". Independent Lens. PBS. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  11. ^ "Best of Enemies (2015)". The Numbers. Nahs Information Services. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  12. ^ "Best of Enemies (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  13. CBS Interactive
    . Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  14. ^ Yuan, Jada; Buchanan, Kyle; Ebiri, Bilge (February 18, 2015). "The 18 Best Films from Sundance 2015". Vulture. New York Media. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  15. ^ "BEST OF ENEMIES". Young Vic. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  16. ^ Kirkscey, Jonathan. "Bio & Contact". Jonathan Kirkscey, Composer. Archived from the original on March 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  17. ^ "Filmography". RaymondScott.net. Reckless Night Music. Retrieved August 22, 2018.

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