Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) Movie Review
Duration : 93 minutes (1 hour 33 minutes), Genre: Biography
Rated : PG Director: George Clooney
Good Night And Good Luck – A Crusader of the Fourth Estate
It's a passionate, serious, impeccably crafted movie tackling a subject Clooney cares about deeply: the duty of journalism to speak truth to power. It also happens to be the most compelling American movie of the year so far.
- David Ansen
Newsweek
“This instrument (television) can teach, it can illuminate, and, yes it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box.”
- Edward R. Murrow
Legendary American Television Journalist
Highly recommended for the students of journalism and mass media, this is a movie about the legendary American newsman Edward R. Murrow.
Set in 50’s, at the height of cold war, this film chronicles the famous media encounter between CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow with Sen. Joseph McCarthy.
Soon after World War II, the America and western world are paranoid about communism, which is spreading across the globe like a wildfire. In these confused times, Edward R.Murrow (David Strathairn) and his team of newsmen find a Naval Officer, who is wrongly accused and terminated. With their investigation, they come to know that the naval officer has been accused as a communist for just subscribing a Serbian newspaper. Despite knowing the danger, the spirited newsmen decide to broadcast the news story across America. Eventually, trouble comes from the Sen. McCarthy, who points his finger towards Edward R.Murrow and his team as communists. But the stubborn newsmen are unwilling to bend and Murrow goes a step further, challenging Sen. McCarthy. When the annoyed Sen. McCarthy wages a fiery battle through media, the courageous Murrow gets ready to unmask the Senator…
Mimicking the real-life person in every possible way, the lead artiste David Strathairn had produced a towering performance and that sets the drama apart.
Clooney said that the audience felt McCarthy character was overacting a bit, not realizing that it was the actual McCarthy through archive footage!
The option of shooting the film in black and white and mixing the footages of the real McCarthy is a stroke of genius and that adds authenticity to the film.
George Clooney has been paid $1 for writing, directing, and acting in Good Night, and Good Luck, which cost just $7.5 million to make !
It is a subject that comes naturally to George Clooney; his father, Nick, was for many years a local television newscaster in Cincinnati.
The film was named "Best Reviewed Film of 2005 in Limited Release" by Rotten Tomatoes, where it achieved a 94% positive review rating.
This tautly scripted, finest social commentary is a remarkable tribute to the man who made profound impact in media with his candour and character.
By
Srini