Modern Movie Monday: Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)


Plot Summary

In the early 1950's, the threat of Communism created an air of paranoia in the United States and exploiting those fears was Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. However, CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) and his producer Fred W. Friendly (George Clooney) decided to take a stand and challenge McCarthy and expose him for the fear monger he was. However, their actions took a great personal toll on both men, but they stood by their convictions and helped to bring down one of the most controversial senators in American history.

This is an unusual movie in some ways as it's not only a B&W film but there are other little things that go into it that makes it unique. First of all, this is the very definition of a docudrama in that everything is done in pretty much a step by step accounting of Edward R. Murrow's reporting against Senator Joseph McCarthy. You get everything from the staff meetings from his show to the cobbling together of film to create the various episodes about McCarthy. Another unique part of this movie is that about every 23-24 minutes there would be a jazz standard sung by a lady and this is particularly interesting because those intervals are how long a half hour program usually ran in the 1950s. Lastly, the archival footage is almost a character unto itself especially in the case of McCarthy who is so prominently displayed as to become a character in his own right. It's a neat little trick and Clooney as co-scripter and director of this movie does it very well.

The movie also becomes a meta piece as well as it's bookended by a speech Murrow made at the 1958 RTNDA (Radio-Television News Directors Association) dinner in which he talks about the clash between journalism especially in the TV age and the corporate overseers that control the distribution of the news. He warns against the insulation of the higher ups and how they look to placate the masses with entertainment and soothing material that insulates from the harsh realities of the real world. This is no mere accident by Clooney and Co. as it's clearly a parallel to how the news business has been corrupted by the corporate overlords. We now live in an age of infotainment and more often than not journalists and journalism tries it best not to rock the boat too much. We are now inundated with cable "news' outlets that seek to divide the masses by using talking points and creating conflict to obfuscate the realities of what's going on. This was what Murrow warned against at that dinner and the film looks at Murrow's work against McCarthyism through that prism as William Paley (Frank Langella) the president of CBS News tries his damndest to support Murrow but the pressures of sponsors and bad publicity makes it hard for him at times and there's a clash between telling the truth of the matter as Murrow and Friendly see it and the pressures of keeping the news division's reputation in tact.

The acting in this movie is uniformly good with Straithairn capturing the essence of Murrow right down to his look and tone. If you were to see old footage of Murrow and look at Straitharn in this flick you would be hard pressed to see too many differences. Clooney is very understated here and it's a testament to his willpower by not trying to become a more central character. In fact, this movie is an ensemble piece and everyone has a role to play in it with Murrow being the center focus.

Last but not least, it's amazing what B&W cinematography can do as everyone looks harsher than they would in color. They almost look haggard and old which is interesting in this era of actors wanting to look their very best. George Clooney who's noted for his good looks actually looks more like a NY executive rather than a high priced movie actor. The sharp relief from the dark hues and the brightness that comes from lighting contrasts to a degree at times where it ALMOST looks noirish. There's one segment when Paley is in his office while an episode is being broadcast and it's a very ominous and dark looking scene seeing him sitting there wondering when the next shoe will drop.

I give this movie ** 1/2 stars. I drop half a star for the subplot regarding Robert Downey Jr. and his wife as it seems like they may be communists but it turns out their big secret is a LOT more benign. It should've been handled a little better IMO.