THE BEST OF ENEMIES (2019)

Rated:  PG-13

STARS: Sam Rockwell, Taraji P. Henson, Anne Heche, Bill Riddick
DIRECTOR: Robin Bissell
GENRE: Drama


As the slow march toward summer movie mediocrity begins (as evidenced by the previews of upcoming films I just sat through), The Best Of Enemies is something of a find. It's based on the true story of C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell) and Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson)--as unlikely of an odd couple as you're ever going to find.

Ellis was a white racist and leader in the Ku Klux Klan. Atwater was a housing activist for black folks. They were chosen to co-chair a committee on school desegregation in Durham, North Carolina in 1971. The committee was charged with giving the thumbs up or thumbs down to allowing children from a black school to integrate with a white school after the former's building was gutted by fire. Representatives from the KKK and the black community formed a panel that would make the decision after two weeks of public hearings. Something like that would be unheard of today in our climate of nasty political polarization.

As you can imagine, the two leads despised each other in the beginning. But a funny thing happens when circumstances dictate that you must interact with people you hate due to fear and ignorance. Their humanity begins to emerge. Your humanity begins to emerge. Because it's in there. Though it may be buried deep down in some of us and need to be dredged up with heavy equipment.

The Best Of Enemies is the inspiring story of how two people from polar opposites met in the middle and became friends. And it's mostly true to the facts (though if you read the book by Osha Gray Davidson you'd be able to nitpick some things from what I understand). 

The film builds skillfully to a climactic moment that may have you cheering or grabbing for your box of tissue. I didn't know the story of this movie going in, but it wasn't hard to figure out halfway through how it was all going to come down. It's predictability doesn't make it any less of a stirring film. We all figured that The Italian Stallion was going to triumph in Rocky II, but it was still a helluva movie.   

The Best Of Enemies is overly long, but I always forgive that if the payoff packs a punch in the end. Good turns from Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, and a story that allows us to root for the triumph of love over hate. The Best Of Enemies should probably be in the Oscar conversation, but having come out so early in the year, it may not be well remembered by then. In the same way that the spirit of brotherhood is not so well remembered in America these days. 

 Grade:  A -

JILL'S TAKE

Here's a personal antonym, that describes (for me) The Best Of Enemies. Outstanding,Superb, Captivating, Awesome, Relevant. (But despite both leads definitely deserving Academy Awards, the film's early release will probably kill any chance of that happening.) I was familiar with the story beforehand and, ever a fan of built-in conflicts, I couldn't wait to see the movie. I wasn't disappointed.  Neither was the the audience, applauding as the ends credits rolled.

So many great things about this movie!  But since Tim didn't mention the musical score—the irony of what we were seeing on screen as opposed to what we were hearing—I will start by heaping tons of praise on Marcelo Zarvos. Well done!

I hate to use this term, considering the subject matter, but if there's one thing The Best Of Enemies proves it's that nothing in this world is black and white. C.P. Ellis may have been a devoted Klansman but early on we see his tender side when he comforts his mentally challenged son. Sam Rockwell plays bigots so well. His cocky strut, his sneer. Since he's originally from San Mateo, California, I doubt he's had much white-sheet experience. Still, if I was in the same elevator with him, I'd feel slightly unnerved....

Yes, the movie was long and with all those town meeting scenes it could have felt endless but it didn't. If I had to find something to criticize—and, believe me, I'm seriously nitpicking here—I'd say the final turn around seemed a bit too sudden and unbelievable. Still, if you don't seen another movie all year, do not miss this one!

Grade: A+

HIDDEN FIGURES (2017)

Rated: PG

STARS: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali
DIRECTOR: Ted Melfi
GENRE: Biopic/Drama

Hidden Figures, the "based upon a true story" tale of three young black women who worked for NASA in the Jim Crow era of segregation in Virginia in the early sixties, is the feelgood film of the year--so far (though the year's still young!)

Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) was a math genius who spit out blackboards full of equations that would prove instrumental in getting John Glenn into space as the first man to orbit the earth in 1962. Her two friends and cohorts, Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae), had their own stories: Vaughn in her struggle to rise to a supervisory position within an organization that was male dominated and overtly racist; and Mary Jackson, who had to petition the court to allow her to attend classes at the all white University of Virginia so that she could fulfill requirements to get into NASA's engineering program.     

Just as it takes many hands and many minds to put a manned rocket into space, there are many hands and many minds that go into the making of a film. In the beginning, there was the word. Or rather, the book by Margot Lee Shetterly. The movie, reportedly, is not a faithful rendering of the book--some creative license was taken with timelines, and some events were invented--all for dramatic effect--but that's typical of nearly all such film adaptations. So no demerits there.

A gold star goes to Pharrel Williams, Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch for a musical score that adds punch to the most dramatic and uplifting scenes. And yes, they are manipulative scenes that will make your eyes water. After all, Hidden Figures is about some brave and spunky women who dealt with and overcame the astounding ignorance--the total disregard for human dignity--that was our American apartheid system which existed prior to the enactment of the groundbreaking Civil Rights legislation of 1964. 

BUT...all the white folks portrayed here are one dimensional. To the man (and woman), they are all condescending racist creeps, to one degree or another. Even the most sympathetic of the lot--project supervisor Al Harrison (Kevin Costner)--is so wrapped up in his work that he has to be shown by the women themselves the inherent unfairness of some of the workplace conditions they had to put up with. Like walking half a mile to the "colored" restrooms. But by stereotyping ALL of the Caucasians in this manner, Hidden Figures paints a skewed portrait of the way it really was in the early sixties, when a growing consciousness and the movement for civil rights was beginning to form. I was around then (as a young'un) and can attest that while not all of us were Bernie Sanders, not all of us were George Wallace either. So a few demerits for some blatant stereotyping.

As for the acting, Taraji P. Henson deserves an Oscar nomination for "Running In High Heels," as she dashes back and forth to the restroom on her breaks!

Grade:  B


JILL'S TAKE

Having seen the trailer for Hidden Figures at least a dozen times before actually viewing the film, I had some preconceived notions about what I'd be going to see. Ho hum, just another women's rights flick with black chicks. Boy, was I wrong! Not about the content but about how I would be drawn in emotionally. Racism is always 'box office gold' in film-making parlance. And Hidden Figures is no exception. What makes it unique is the woman's angle. And being about NASA doesn't hurt, either.

The performances were all top notch. But as I am a devoted Oscar follower, I must say that Octavia Spencer's "Best Supporting Actress" nomination is a bit puzzling. Yes, she was good as the never-getting-promoted victim of racial prejudice. But compared to the other two African American ladies who are nominated? Gimme a break. (I'm referring to Viola Davis in Fences and Naomie Harris in Moonlight.) I guess last year's all white brouhaha is to blame... Still, Hidden Figures is a must-see movie and definitely deserves its Best Film nomination.

I find very little to criticize. And at the end of two hours and seven minutes, I still wanted more. I especially loved how they showed the real women at the end of the film -- at different ages and stages of their lives. Very uplifting, indeed.

Grade: B+