Good Night, And Good Luck

This is only George Clooney's second time as a director, but as with Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, he again, does a really good job. The film features an astonishing performance by David Strathairn, who is casted perfectly as Edward R. Murrow. I have to say this wasn't an easy film. It realy is about a serious subject. It isn't a film where you can just lay back and see how relationships between characters develop. This film really is a historical piece. The way it was handled is quite remarkable. The feeling of the work environment of CBS at that time really comes through. You really feel you are taken back into time to watch it all happen. The camerawork was great, so was the fact that everything was shot in black and white, which worked very well. I loved the smoke coming up from Murray's cigarette. It gave him a bit of mystery and feeling of power everytime he sat in front of the camera to present the latest news to the American viewers. Strathairn really resembles Murrow, looking juts like him when seen on television screnes in the background. Also the actors in smaller roles are very nice to watch. Clooney himself does a nice job as Friendly and Patricia Clarkson is mesmerizing, even though her role is quite small. The use of real footage of McCarthy fits in perfectly with the new images and really add to the story and the film's authenticity.

What is it about?

Good Night, and Good Luck tells the story of Edward R. Murrow, a CBS reporter who after some topics concerning senator Joseph's McCarthy handling of his hunt for communists, start to bring McCarthy to the forefront himself. Together with friend and producer Fred W. Friendly, Murray starts to expose McCarthy for being unfair in his politics. It's the beginning of the rise of television, but already these two man took the risk to go in against the measures taken by an highly powerful American senator. At the time their actions were being considered very controversial, they were the first to create the news instead of just report. Fortunately, their actions had great effect helping to bring down one of America's most controversial senators.

Final Verdict: ****

Overall the film was quite short. But it really gives a good view of the pressure people felt by the way senator McCarthy started this witch-hunt for communists and the rules at CBS at that period. For instance Patricia Clarkson's and Robert Downey Jr.'s characters who play a married people, but who aren't actually allowed to be married, gives face to the now old views of relationships between men and women at that time. The cast is great, at times really working as an ensemble, but with Strathairn always standing out. This film isn't meant to really entertain, even though it is entertaining. But most of all it shows this period of fear and paranoia created by McCarthy. It's a great look at this historical period, wonderfully told and directed by Clooney. This film isn't really a must-see, but it's definitely a nice and solid movie that gives a great look of its subject handled.