Review: Henson, Rockwell bring sensitivity to true-life tale

If you didn’t know that “The Best of Enemies” was based on a true story, you’d likely find the premise preposterous, and for a movie, probably ill-advised: A lowbrow Klan leader in North Carolina and a black single mom/community activist are forced into dialogue and become lifelong friends and allies. It’s also a somewhat fascinating deep dive into an arcane process of community problem-solving called a “charrette” — ever heard of it? Because Rockwell, despite his talent in all sorts of roles, still seems to exude a core of basic decency, it’s a shock to see his Ellis lead a Klan “activity” that involves shooting up the house of a white woman who’s dating a black man, as she cowers on the ground inside amid shattered glass. But it’s hard to argue with the decision to show actual footage of Atwater and Ellis talking and laughing as the credits roll — a frankly thrilling real-life glimpse into the unlikeliest of stories.