Good Night, and Good Luck.

In watching Good Night, and Good Luck I wish I could have been there, in that smoky newsroom of black and white full of wit and knowledge amongst the friendly group of liberated male journalists. Although a few women fill in secretarial roles, the engaging men of the film challenge Senator McCarthy’s communist cleansing in the 1950s through the brave and unafraid reporter Edward R. Murrow. Beyond the courageous risks the group makes to confront a constitutional issue, the film itself is artfully made with fresh angles that give new perspectives on newsroom technicalities while integrating authentic television advertisements that reflect the consumerism and conformity of the times. The relationships are also very telling in such a short period of time, and one can sense the closeness of the coworkers and appreciate the humor that they try to inject into their daily lives under the bearings of McCarthyism. As George Clooney’s second take at directing a feature film, he makes subtle choices that have large effects in a well-evened film that is all about timing. His job as co-screenwriter, along with Grant Heslov, is more impressive as Good Night, and Good Luck is a film that displays the power and manipulation of words and the effectiveness they can have amidst a time when everyone else was afraid to say anything at all.

Starring: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson, Tate Donovan
Director: George Clooney
Runtime: 93 minutes