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Movie Description
With GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, George Clooney delivers a riveting account of a crucial chapter in 20th-century American history and, in the process, firmly establishes himself as a major force behind the camera as well. The crisply paced, tautly scripted docudrama recounts the events of the mid-1950s leading up to acclaimed CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow's (David Strathairn) decision to stand up against fiery Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was out to rid the country of communism. McCarthy's seemingly reckless behavior, in which he condemned individuals without giving them a fair trial, angered Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) into action. The resulting few episodes of Murrow's show, SEE IT NOW, found Murrow on a personal, patriotic crusade to challenge McCarthy and rid America of his callous persecution.
Set almost entirely inside the smoke-filled, pressurized newsrooms at CBS, Clooney's assured picture moves at a breakneck pace. Cinematographer Robert Elswit miraculously recreates the black-and-white look of that era, giving the film an added air of legitimacy. And while Clooney and co-screenwriter/producer Grant Heslov wisely chose to use stock footage of McCarthy instead of finding an actor to fill his shoes, they couldn't have found a better Murrow than Strathairn, who delivers his lines with heroic conviction. Clooney's stellar ensemble cast also includes Ray Wise, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, and Frank Langella.
Industry Reviews
"[A] passionate, thoughtful essay on power, truth-telling and responsibility."
New York Times - A. O. Scott (09/23/2005)
3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Clooney emerges as a powerhouse filmmaker....Clooney has crafted a period piece that speaks potently to [the] here-and-now..."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (10/20/2005)
"[A] marvel of classic restraint in a hopped-up film culture. Shot in elegant black and white with impeccable ensemble acting and moody jazz riffs for a soundtrack, it wouldn't exist except for the lonely passion of director, co-writer and costar George Clooney."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (10/07/2005)
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "[W]hen the movie's at is smartest, it's dazzlingly bright....David Stratharin, playing Murrow, follows his writers' lead beautifully, delivering a performance that's all understatement on the surface and searing fire underneath."
Premiere - Glenn Kenny (11/01/2005)
"[A]n energized sliver of history, smart, sharp, and lively, staged with enjoyable panache..." -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (10/14/2005)
"David Strathairn's extraordinary performance dominates the film with its gravitas, pathos and even a streak of deadpan humour."
Sight and Sound - Geoffrey Macnab (11/01/2005)
5 stars out of 5 -- "[C]ontinually astonishing for its poise and its impeccable attention to detail....Clooney achieves his objectives with clarity and concision."
Uncut - Adam Sweeting (03/01/2006)
"David Strathairn plays Murrow, a performance eerily on the money and tinged with irony....The extensive footage of McCarthy is artfully integrated."
USA Today - Mike Clark (10/07/2005)
"Righteous and superbly evocative of the era, the film also reacquaints us with a more sophisticated yesteryear, when media stars had principles, spoke in full paragraphs, and faced down the corrupt..."
Movieline's Hollywood Life - Michael Atkinson (03/01/2006)
"Strathairn's subtle and serious Oscar-nominated performance demands the respect of his audience."
Widescreen Review - Widescreen Review Staff (05/01/2006)
4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] well-judged and well-timed Clooney lament about the state of television journalism in a trying age..."
Total Film - Jonathan Dean (06/01/2006)
3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] healthy reminder that in any political crisis, history is always the final judge."
Ultimate DVD - David Richardson (07/01/2006)
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