"That's a nice-a donut."
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
George Clooney has followed up his interesting and ambitious, but ultimately a let-down, directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - allegedly based on a true story - with another movie based on a true story. This time, though, the result is much better. Good Night, and Good Luck. is a simple, but very thought-provoking, expose on television newscaster Edward R. Murrow and his battle with Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s.
Clooney has crafted a romanticized notion of TV news broadcasts of yesteryear. In the many smoke-filled rooms we witness a journalism team that has prospered on truth, integrity and good old-fashioned reporting. It is a sly wink to the audience that Murrow (David Strathairn) is rarely seen on screen without a cigarette; it's rather funny because people would be aghast if someone were to do that on TV now. But yet people don't do that anymore and the world and the state of the news certainly isn't any better. But back in those lonely days in 1953 and 1954, Murrow and his friend and producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) began to slowly realize that there was more to McCarthy's Red Scare than just some un-American Commies being fingered. This was a witch-hunt, pure and simple, and the methods and tactics being used by the senator seemed highly questionable. The normally independent and moderate "See it Now" team must contend with cries of partisanship, threats to lose their big sponsor, pressure from CBS executive William Paley (Frank Langella) and even the possibility of being outed themselves. Eventually McCarthy (with no live actor, but solely through archival footage) appears on the program.
Of course, much of the movie is a clear parallel to the current ongoing situation with the United States government and detainees in prison at Guantanamo Base in Cuba and elsewhere. Just as civil liberties are being trampled upon in the name of national security, the Red Scare was manifested under the guise of patriotism and security during the Cold War. Just as a vocal minority fights Bush Administration efforts to hold people indefinitely without being charged, Murrow fought the unjust methods that McCarthy used. Perhaps they were (or are) a threat but let's play fair.
Regardless of how you feel about all that, Good Night brilliantly succeeds in creating an air of tension, discovery, and anticipation all in one. Waiting for the first "See it Now" show in which McCarthy appeared was like waiting for the Super Bowl or a boxing heavyweight title fight, or other highly buzzed-about sporting event to begin. Something like that would never happen in the Internet Age, as Murrow and McCarthy would simply fire shots at each other in the press (or perhaps on their blogs), and people would quickly take sides regardless of the facts. Even if McCarthy did appear on Murrow's show, it would likely just be a matter of highly rehearsed talking points that had little to do with the actual topic at hand.
The cast is note-perfect from performance to performance, but Strathairn is completely convincing as Murrow. One flaw though is that perhaps it uses too much news footage. It was an interesting decision to not cast the role of McCarthy and to instead show him solely from news clips. But this, plus a lengthy piece of footage that aired on "See it Now," casts the shadow of a documentary on the movie. Regardless, Good Night effectively creates a stirring recreation of television's high point.
The Verdict: A-.
Michael Bentley 10:58 AM
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