Good Night, and Good Luck.
It's 1953, and the piece of talking furniture called TV is still a novelty in America's living rooms. On it, Sen. Joseph McCarthy uses fear, falsehoods and belligerence to become arguably the most powerful man in the land. On it, newsman Edward R. Murrow, who's had his fill of the senator's tactics, fights back.
That pivotal clash of two titans is the focus of director/co-writer George Clooney's award-winning Good Night, and Good Luck. David Strathairn portrays Murrow, the principled "face of television" who maps his strategy with his producer and confident, Fred Friendly (Clooney). A deft ensemble plays staff members in the bustling battleground that is the CBS newsroom. McCarthy is in the mix, too, intercut into the action via real-life footage. Don't touch that dial. A media and a nation are going to change - while on the air.
Member Reviews
Very slow movie. - Silverthorn
I wouldn't recommend this movie. It was another movie where George Clooney wanted to be pompous and brag about the type of movie he was in. I thought the movie was slow, had a lack of climax and wasn't worth watching in full. Many may disagree with me though.Go Clooney! - KeithTalent
David Strathairn is absolutely awesome as Edward R. Murrow and is what makes this film so great; he really just takes over the screen whenever he is on. The supporting actors are very good as well (I love Frank Langella) and the overall story of Murrow essentially standing up to McCarthy. I also liked how they spliced in real news footage in with the movie (McCarthy is played by himself, very cool). Can't say I am going to rush to see this again soon, but I did enjoy it.Wonderful film - CanCinephile
Without venturing into too much depth like any other similar biopic would have, Good Night and Good Luck presents its story with prominent purpose and engaging dialogue. It captures the feel of the newsroom and the essence of Murrow's journalistic integrity more than it concentrates on the man himself, which is an excellent breath of fresh air in terms of biopics.
Most other films covering the topic would have wasted time delving into the personal lives of its subject and would have gotten lost in that element, attempting to loosely offer us the "human drama" behind the real story. In this case, it is not so much a film about Murrow as a person or his rise to journalistic superpower but rather a film about a piece of Murrow's life. I think many reviewers miss that point and assume it is a pure biopic instead of a partial one.
The performances capitalize on this element, offering us real and snappy portrayals of the characters spliced with actual news footage to create an almost eerie vision of the paranoid time. It is quick for this type of film, giving us a wonderful pace that doesn't bog down in the subject matter and never overdoes the focal points. This creates a film that packages the story up like a headline news item: quick, concise, and to the point.
This is a wonderfully captivating piece of filmmaking.
Member Reviews
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Very slow movie. - Silverthorn
I wouldn't recommend this movie. It was another movie where George Clooney wanted to be pompous and brag about the type of movie he was in. I thought the movie was slow, had a lack of climax and wasn't worth watching in full. Many may disagree with me though.Go Clooney! - KeithTalent
David Strathairn is absolutely awesome as Edward R. Murrow and is what makes this film so great; he really just takes over the screen whenever he is on. The supporting actors are very good as well (I love Frank Langella) and the overall story of Murrow essentially ...Wonderful film - CanCinephile
Without venturing into too much depth like any other similar biopic would have, Good Night and Good Luck presents its story with prominent purpose and engaging dialogue. It captures the feel of the newsroom and the essence of Murrow's journalistic integrity ...