The Best of Enemies (2019)

Directed by: Robin Bissell | 128 minutes | biography, drama | Actors: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, Nick Searcy, Bruce McGill, John Gallagher Jr., Nicholas Logan, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Caitlin Mehner, Dolan Wilson, Morgan Mackey, Kendall Ryan Sanders, Chris Cavalier

Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. The film industry has known this for a long time and that is why countless (TV) films are made that are ‘based on true events’. This slogan attracts attention and has become a useful marketing tool. Even horror movies like ‘The Conjuring’ claim to be based on ‘facts’. You probably already guessed that the ‘The Best Of Enemies’ discussed here also seems to be based on reality. In the case of this film, that description is justified, because the story of this film is really too bizarre to be true…

The Best Of Enemies centers on the unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), a civil rights activist, and CP Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a regional Ku Klux Klan leader. Reluctantly, in the racially charged summer of 1971, Ellis decided to attend a community meeting discussing the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina. This visit changed his life and view on racial segregation immensely.

Rockwell knows how to interpret the turn from racist to idealist well. Very nicely done. Thanks to his body language and glance, the always reliable actor manages to credibly portray his character’s inner struggle. He is honestly the best aspect of this movie. Director Robin Bissell delivers craftsmanship, but he colors very neatly within the lines and does not know where to distinguish himself. In terms of imagery and cinematography, this production is nowhere special. Decent, but no more than that.

Henson is less convincing in her role of Atwater. The actress is fierce, but not sympathetic about anything. She always looks angry and indignant. Henson’s overacting – sometimes tending to overacting – eventually gets on the nerves and stands in stark contrast to Rockwell’s layered role. What remains is a decent film about a true story.