Review Summary: A little slow, but a timely true story worth telling on the big screen.
I always really get a kick out of hidden true stories. Stories that aren't widely considered part of history, and then get the spotlight on the big screen. Not only is it fascinating to watch, you also might just learn something you never knew before. As far as stories about integration are concerned, we've definitely seen the likes of this before from Glory Road to one of my favorite movies of recent memory, Hidden Figures.
And while Best of Enemies doesn't quite capture the entertaining and memorable vibes of the latter, its' still a relatively strong movie on its own. Is it predictable? At times, yes it is. Does it borrow elements from similar true stories? At a few points, yes. But, is it still a story that I believe needs to be told on the big screen? Absolutely.
What Enemies manages to do is create a strong story of personal transformation. Taraji P. Henson gets top billing, but the movie's real focus is on Sam Rockwell's character, C.P. Ellis. At the beginning, we immediately strongly dislike his character. But, as the film progresses, the script does a great job getting us to empathize with him and understand his situation. It also shows how the film's other characters work together to help change his mind and his heart.
Rockwell's performance showcases that. He's not an Oscar winner for nothing. He does a phenomenal job showcasing the likable and unlikable sides of his character. And, by the end of the film, you wind up cheering for him. It's not easy to pull off a character like that, and Rockwell does it with so much finesse. Of course, Henson is great too, bringing energy and passion into Ann Atwater. I only wish we could have seen a little more of her character's soft side.
Not to mention, the film carries a handful of very timely messages. It shows how one person's kindness can warm even the hardest of hearts and can make a difference. Faith even very clearly plays a part in one character's life. And, in the midst of a time of political division, "fake news", and hate comments everywhere on the internet, its' refreshing to see a movie that encourages us to sit down and listen to each other. As I said earlier, people learn things they never knew before and get a chance to understand where their opponents are coming from. Boy, if we could have more of that in this world, that would surely be something!
Like most period piece films, Best of Enemies has a refreshing yesteryear vibe. Old cars, realistic costumes and excellent recreations of towns back in the olden days. Yet it also deals with themes that are universal and relate with multiple generations. Besides the ethnic tension and the political history involved, audiences in tune with the news will find a nod to the "Me Too" movement as well later in the story.
One thing that does hold the movie back a bit is that it is a little slowly-paced in its first half. At first, its' a little difficult to really get into the characters and their motivations. The first half also carries a handful of scenes that are difficult to watch (especially for more sensitive viewers). However, as far as historical representation goes, its' hard to have this movie omit those scenes. Beyond that, the film's end credits song (by John Legend) seems to be out-of-place.
But, there's nothing really else that feels off-kilter as Best of Enemies wins our hearts and minds the old-fashioned way. Yes, it's not quite revolutionary filmmaking, but its definitely a timely story that teens and adults definitely should see.
My Score: 8.3/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing: The Best of Enemies is rated PG-13 for "thematic material, racial epithets, some violence, and a suggestive reference". While I definitely believe teens and adults should see it, this is NOT a movie for kids. The first half alone has a few moments that will put the film out of bounds. The KKK spies rudely on a woman going to bed (we see her unclothe into a bra and skirt), and then fires relentlessly at her house. We see smoke coming through a vent and kids and adults coughing as they run out of a school fire. In one other scene, someone sexually assaults a female integration sympathizer (his arm is off-screen, but it's implied that he's inappropriately touching her). Someone sets C.P.'s gas station on fire. Someone is smacked by Ann.
Beyond that, C.P. and his wife are shown cuddling a bit in undergarments before going to sleep. Characters are seen at a firing range. Someone is threatened with a baseball bat. Characters are seen smoking and drinking beer repeatedly. Language includes two uses of the s-word, plus nine uses of "h***", four of "d***" and three of "a***". However, the n-word is used disparagingly many times (even though its' never praised or glorified). Being a film about a time in history, men (and a few women) are shown to be insensitive, impolite and very unkind towards African-Americans. This is historically accurate, but it doesn't make the film easier to watch.
