By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: George Cloioney
Starring: David Straithairn | Frank Langella | George Clooney | Patricia Clarkson | Robert Downey Jr
Country: united_states
Year: 2005
Running time: 93
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433383/combined
Chris says: “This historical recreation of Edward R. Murrow’s televised expose of Joseph McCarthy is a strong second directorial effort from George Clooney. The impressive ensemble is headed by David Strathairn, who delivers a career-best performance as Murrow; also good are Frank Langella as CBS chairman William Paley, Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson as newsroom co-workers (and a couple who secretive marriage is used as a counterpoint to McCarthyism), and Clooney himself, who has never shown so much restraint and ease, in a supporting role as Murrow’s producer Fred Friendly.
“With its relatively low budget, the film painstakingly recreates the breakneck chaos of a TV newsroom of the time. Instead of casting an actor to play McCarthy, Clooney incorporates actual footage of the man himself. Along with the inclusion of period commercials, it gives the film a documentary feel, although the stunning black-and-white cinematography and commenting intrusions from jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves are, in contrast, heavily stylized. But the mesh works anyway. The only major flaw? Clooney ends up sanctifying Murrow a little too much, occasionally obscuring vital issues of journalistic objectivity. At least Murrow doesn’t come off as humorless, though: his off-camera demeanor is given fair depth, especially his inclination to educate an audience, rather than conduct yet another fluffy interview with a fluffy celebrity like Liberace. 4 cats”
Michael says: “I always have a little trouble reviewing films that tell such fascinating true stories. George Clooney’s GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK examines the real-life tale of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow and his reporting on the communist/witch hunts of Senator Joseph McCarthy. I’ve certainly got to hand it to Mr. Clooney; for his second feature he’s not going for mindless entertainment, but a provocative look at a dark time in our history that reflects some very similar concerns that we are facing today. As more and more people found themselves accused of being a communist by McCarthy and his followers, Murrow and his news team boldly took a stand for freedom, independence and truth in a way that would be unheard of in today’s television news milieu.
“David Straithairn captures the nobility and intelligence of Murrow phenomenally, eloquently speaking his words that reached the masses of viewers in their own living rooms. I can only imagine that Clooney, faced with the powerful words of Murrow himself, used those words for Straithairn’s on air monologues. Clooney doesn’t waste much time with frippery, although there is a subplot about two staff people on the new show who are secretly married that at first seems extraneous. Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey Jr. fill these supporting roles strongly, and it is only after the movie has unfolded that the connection between the perceived secret of being a communist can be compared to the suddenly insignificant fact that these two characters are married. Clooney himself puts in a restrained an effective turn as Murrow’s producer, and Frank Langella is delightful as the head of the network. I will long remember the words, ‘Tread carefully in these next few moments,’ delivered ominously by Langella’s imposing presence. But it’s Straithairn’s show, and Clooney keeps the focus on him. The effective use of real-life footage of McCarthy speaking at hearings is chilling in their preposterous yet all-too real danger. Clooney is certainly one actor turned filmmaker who should be watched. 4 cats”