The Best of Enemies
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- Official Trailer 2 (02:35)
- Official Trailer (02:32)
Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
Can anyone ever truly change? This nearly unbelievable true story suggests they can. It’s 1971 in Durham, North Carolina. The Civil Rights movement is in full swing, and activist Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson) argues for school integration over the objections of C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), an Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan.
Despite the volatility of their diametrically-opposed viewpoints, a city councilman calls Atwater and Ellis to co-lead an extended series of meetings to manage the city’s transition to integration. Despite their differences, the two have to find common ground and find a path to the future together.
Cast
- Taraji P. Henson
- Sam Rockwell
- Babou Ceesay
- Nick Searcy
- Wes Bentley
- Anne Heche
- Bruce McGill
- John Gallagher
- Nicholas Logan
- Gilbert Glenn Brown
Letterboxd User Reviews
3.4
21.7K
4.3K
4.4K
- Oct 16, 2018
can sam rockwell stop playing racists so i can publicly love and support him pleaaaaase
oliveighaSep 7, 2019nooo sam rockwell don’t play another racist character your so sexy aha
brandonApr 4, 2019Robin Bissell’s “The Best of Enemies” may not be some kind of game-changing corrective to all the retrograde films about race in America (we’re talking about an uplifting historical biopic directed by the executive producer of “Seabiscuit”), but this sturdy drama has the…
davidehrlich - Apr 5, 2019
The Green Book of 2019. This movie has inspired me to start a petition to officially recognize a new cinematic universe known as the "White people write movies about black history in order to redeem their racist ancestors Cinematic Universe." Some movies I would consider…
PapiJul 28, 2023Man, I feel kinda bad for Sam Rockwell. The fact people literally sees him and tell to themselves “Let’s cast him as a racist!”. At least, I guess, his racists character for the most part have a change of heart eventually. The film, as many have pointed out, has good…
Rafael "Mister Movie" JovineApr 11, 2019C.P ELLIS, PRESIDENT OF THE KKK, STANDS FOR COLORED PERSON ELLIS!!! LITERALLY WHAT ABOUT IT???
#1 gizmo fan - Nov 5, 2024
If you've read the synopsis of "Best of Enemies" and then notice that the two leads are played by Sam Rockwell and Taraji P Henson, you've got a pretty damn good idea what this is going to be and that idea is 100% correct! It's perfectly 'fine' and does it's job, but…
MrPPeepsJul 3, 2021I hate how Sam Rockwell is always at his best when he plays a racist.
Jake Alda CoffeyMar 25, 2019Hereby known as the other klansman movie set in 1971, The Best of Enemies is alright. It doesn't have the energy of Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, dragging in the second act. Plus, I was downright confused when I saw the title of the movie, as it made me recall the (excellent)…
Allison M. 🌱
Queue Community Reviews
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Top Reviews
- Cesar Duran lovedThe Best of Enemies
The pacing is amazing and C.P.’s development has an amazing story
Clementine lovedThe Best of Enemiesa really excellent film. I loved the story and the messaging
Ivory Uk. lovedThe Best of EnemiesWhen you realise years of what you believed in is wrong
- Shachar lovedThe Best of Enemies
This is an intense, must-see movie. 10 out of 10.
Jordan Burchette likedThe Best of EnemiesI thought this was pretty interesting to watch
Gina likedThe Best of EnemiesI love Taraji P. Her acting is phenomenal
- Ziv Gillat lovedThe Best of Enemies
One of the best movies I’ve ever watched
Марія Іванченко watched_neutraldThe Best of Enemiesgood, enjoyed, but not like great.
Alisha lovedThe Best of EnemiesSuch a good story!
Atom Users Reviews
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Reviews
- FSFrieda Sanders
This movie is awesome!! I live in NC and had no idea of this great piece of history in our back door!
ATAneesah ThompsonExcellent Movie!!! I'm glad this story was told and we as a nation can learn from it.
CWcallie wileyThis movie has a great message about compromise at a time that we need it. The casting was great and convincing. This is a story I had never heard of. I know many movies opened this weekend but I recommend people check it out. You know the pacing is good if the movie flies…
- GSGreg Stringer
this a very powerful movie
OCOmega CarrLoved it!!! What the world needs to see right now.
SMSteve MaucereI believe this movie will be nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress and best supporting actor. Possible blooper - the movie took place in 1971 and towards the end of the movie the lineup of cars I believe had a 1974/75 Chevy Monte Carlo!!!
- JKj kerr
wonderfully acted and the type of film we need more of... especially today, as the events and attitudes portrayed occurred in many of our lifetimes.... lest we forget.
CACyd AlcazarFabulous movie and an outstanding cast!!
GRGail Rowlettjust a inspiring movie to see...to see this is happening today
Metacritic
Apr 10, 2019
The “beats” in the story where hearts are supposed to swell are so telegraphed as to render The Best of Enemies emotionally flat. There are no surprises, no change-ups, no setbacks in this collision of sensibilities.
Jim Slotek
Original-Cin
Apr 5, 2019
Despite the strong performances and more than a few audience-pleasing moments where peace and love triumph over stupidity and bigotry, the film travels such an obvious path and falls into such a predictable rhythm, it doesn’t quite carry the emotional resonance such a powerful true-life story should convey.
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
Apr 4, 2019
Bissell’s fudging of the facts (which includes completely making up the reasons behind the charrette) doesn’t create a story that’s more insightful or dramatically cohesive than the real thing; the only thing it reveals, if indirectly, is liberalism’s longstanding discomfort with the relationship between civil rights and labor movements.
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
The A.V. Club
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Best of Enemies (2019) family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG-13, meaning that some material may be considered inappropriate for children under 13.
How long is The Best of Enemies (2019)?
The movie is 2hr 13min long.
What's The Best of Enemies (2019) about?
Can anyone ever truly change? This nearly unbelievable true story suggests they can. It’s 1971 in Durham, North Carolina. The Civil Rights movement is in full swing, and activist Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson) argues for school integration over the objections of C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), an Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan. Despite the volatility of their diametrically-opposed viewpoints, a city councilman calls Atwater and Ellis to co-lead an extended series of meetings to manage the city’s transition to integration. Despite their differences, the two have to find common ground and find a path to the future together.
Who's the cast of The Best of Enemies (2019)?
- Taraji P. Henson as Ann Atwater
- Sam Rockwell as C.P. Ellis
- Babou Ceesay as Bill Riddick
- Nick Searcy as Garland Keith
- Wes Bentley as Floyd Kelly
- Anne Heche as Mary Ellis
- Bruce McGill as Carvie Oldham
- John Gallagher as Lee Trombley
- Nicholas Logan as Wiley Yates
- Gilbert Glenn Brown as Howard Clement
Who's the director behind The Best of Enemies (2019)?
Robin Bissell directed The Best of Enemies (2019).
Who produced The Best of Enemies (2019)?
Danny Strong, Fred Bernstein and Matt Berenson produced The Best of Enemies (2019).
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