:
David Strathairn,
George Clooney,
Robert Downey, Jr.,
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:
George Clooney,
David Webb
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: 
: Warner Home Video
: Drama, Politics and Social Issues
: 93 min.
: English
: English, Spanish, French
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George Clooney pays homage to one of the icons of American broadcast journalism, Edward R. Murrow, in this fact-based drama, which was Clooney's second feature film as a director. In 1953, Edward R. Murrow (played by David Strathairn) was one of the best-known newsmen on television as host of both the talk show Person to Person and the pioneering investigate series See It Now. Joseph McCarthy, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin, was generating no small amount of controversy in the public and private sectors with his allegations that Communists had risen to positions of power and influence in America, and an Air Force pilot, Milo Radulovich, had been drummed out of the service due to McCarthy's charges that he was a Communist agent. However, Radulovich had been dismissed without a formal hearing of the charges, and he protested that he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Murrow decided to do a story on Radulovich's case questioning the legitimacy of his dismissal, which was seen by McCarthy and his supporters as an open challenge to his campaign. McCarthy responded by accusing Murrow of being a Communist, leading to a legendary installment of See It Now in which both Murrow and McCarthy presented their sides of the story, which was seen by many as the first step toward McCarthy's downfall. Meanwhile, Murrow had to deal with CBS head William Paley (Frank Langella), who was supportive of Murrow but extremely wary of his controversial positions, while Murrow was also trying to support fellow newsman Don Hollenbeck (Ray Wise), battling charges against his own political views, and working alongside Fred Friendly (George Clooney), the daring head of CBS News. Good Night, and Good Luck also stars Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, and Robert John Burke; the film won Best Film honors after its world premiere at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Read GreenCine's exclusive interview with David Strathairn: "Film is Our Literature." "With a 25-year career in some 70 films and TV shows, the prolific Strathairn is one of the finest contemporary actors who remains largely unknown to most viewers," writes Sean Axmaker, introducing his interview, before adding, "Good Night, and Good Luck. could change that."
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| Bad Times, Again
by talltale
March 9, 2006 - 5:18 PM PST
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9 out of 10 members found this review helpful
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Watching GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK is both riveting and chilling, because, while it calls to mind over and over again how our country once fought demagoguery--slowly and reluctantly at first, but finally managing to triumph--it keeps reminding us just as often that we must do this all over again, right now. We may be trying somewhat, but we may have also missed our best, perhaps our only real, opportunity. Time, and the next chance to vote the scoundrels out, will tell. (If the voting machines actually work and give a truthful record, that is.)
Meanwhile, we have this expertly rendered object lesson to view. Everything here--from writing and direction to performances and photography--is well-wrought but never ground-breaking. Yet the movie is not self-congratulatory; it offers too many ironies for that and its characters, even that of Murrow, continually compromise. Everyone connected with this small, circumscribed gem should feel proud. And sad. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.41)
255 Votes
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