Political and socioeconomic unrest reached over a boiling point in the American late 1960’s as the politicians were busy with the presidential nominating conventions. Civil Rights Movement, Sexual freedom and Vietnam War became the vital talking points for outstanding intellectuals. It was also the time when US politics and the theatrical aura of television shows amalgamated to give way for ‘Live’ political debates. Directors Morgan Neville (won an Oscar for the doc. “20 Feet from Stardom”) and Robert Gordon’s “Best of Enemies” (2015) fixes the series of Live-TV debates between political luminaries William F. Buckley, Jr. and Gore Vidal, as its condensing point to highlight how it has led to the modern, on-screen clamoring of political nitwits.
“Best of Enemies” is also one of the most lamentable tales
since Gordon and Neville sheds light onto the psyche of these two brilliant
thinkers, their egos and existential crisis. The documentary commences with a
quick introduction about the highly competitive American television news
circuit during 1968 summer. Republican and Democratic Party conventions for the
upcoming presidential elections were going on full-fledged, but the ABC
television network suffered in the hands of its counterparts CBS and NBC due to
its inability to provide the ‘gavel-to-gavel’ coverage. As the former President
of NBC news clearly puts forth: “ABC was the third of the three networks.
Would’ve have been fourth, but there were only three”.
William Buckley, the prominent conservative political
commentator was once asked, if there was anybody he wouldn’t share a stage
with. Buckley said he would refuse to talk up with a communist, or Gore Vidal.
The mutual antipathy between these two men suddenly gave ideas to the
studio-heads of ABC and so they concocted 10 televised debates, which slowly
turned into a ratings-grabbing, firebrand show. Both William Buckley and Gore
Vidal had experienced resounding defeats and staggering successes in their
lives. Buckley and Vidal were beaten down in their desire to run for political
office (in the early 1960’s). However, Buckley became an eminent host of
right-wing talk show ‘Firing Line’, while Vidal got busy with writing acclaimed
works, including the scandalous, satirical novel "Myra Breckinridge”.
Gore Vidal and Buckley’s animosity seems to have not just
developed from their difference in opinion over political ideology or sexuality
(Gore despite being called as gay literary icon, refused to identify himself as
homosexual. In one of his famous remarks Gore said: “Actually, there
is no such thing as a homosexual person, any more than there is such a thing as a heterosexual
person”). They just hated each other as a person. As one guy says in the doc.,
“Their confrontation is about lifestyle; what kind of people should we be?”
Their mutual hatred reaches a culmination point at the Chicago’s Democratic
convention as Vidal in the flow of the argument calls Buckley “a crypto-nazi”.
To which, Buckley angrily hisses in live TV show saying “Now listen you queer, stop
calling me a crypto-nazi or I’ll sock you in your goddamn face and you’ll stay
plastered”.
The strong words from Buckley are shocking
even in this deplorable name-calling political climate. It’s considered as a
great breach of conduct and Vidal has taken it as victory over his arch-rival. Directors
Neville and Gordon makes it clear how this vital moment in the debate haunted
the lives of both men, till their death, and how it forever changed the way
politics is discussed on TV-shows. The highest ratings rewarded by the viewers
at the end of Vidal-Buckley made TV networks to embrace verbal fisticuffs of
political pundits. The 10 part televised debates has in an obscure manner
played a leading role in transforming political talks to a theatrical performance.
Today, in all democratic nations across several languages, we could see
corporate & social media encouraging political demagogues (or even
nitpickers) to tear down their opposers rather than discussing on mutual
agendas.
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| Directors Robert Gordon (left) and Morgan Neville |
By perfectly staging the life events of
Buckley and Vidal, before and after the debate, the directors were able to make
us understand how these men were product of their own desperate era. But, what
these men couldn’t understand then (which the director duos puts rightly in
context) is that, they are going to become precursors of metamorphosing
political landscape. Neville and Gordon were shrewd in their execution. They
have impeccably created the political atmosphere of American 1960’s through
perfectly placed historical footage. The sidelong commentary from former studio-heads, biographers and journalists highlights the importance of this
rivalry within the contemporary realm and also allows for an uncanny reflection
into the lives of Vidal-Buckley.
“Best of Enemies” (87 minutes) is one the
most entertaining & illuminating documentaries to showcase how broadcast
media and two great minds turned political discourse into a blood-sport.
Trailer
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