By By Andrew Benjamin
The truth is a complex concept. What is the truth? When do people deserve to hear the truth? But most important, whose job is it to tell the truth? The film Good Night, And Good Luck, directed by George Clooney, not only expertly deals with truth in journalism, but also the ethics all journalists should follow and owe to the public. It is also the best movie of the year thus far.
The 1950s brought many changes. Television was beginning to come into everyone’s homes, motion pictures were starting to be filmed in the widescreen cinemascope process and the American people’s fears of communism had reached its peak. The most respected newsman at the time, Edward R. Murrow, and his producer Fred Friendly, want to go after Senator Joseph McCarthy for his unsubstantiated charges against supposed Communists in the U.S. While Murrow wants to do hard-hitting news, CBS’ sponsors want nothing to do with it. Murrow must also be prepared to face McCarthy himself and risk having his career ruined by being labeled as a Communist sympathizer.
The acting by this ensemble cast is truly magnificent. Each actor performs their part with every right note and never falters. David Strathairn should get an Oscar nomination for his career-defining performance as Murrow. He plays the role with the integrity and honesty that made Murrow loved and trusted by so many Americans. George Clooney also gives the best performance of his career with his role as producer Fred Friendly. Unlike most of his past roles, which have been one-dimensional, here he gets to show us his real dramatic side, throwing away his pretty-boy charm in favor of a tough and serious part.
Jeff Daniels, who is the most overlooked actor in Hollywood, plays CBS president Sig Mickelson and shows us, once again, why he can perform in just about any genre and any role with ease. He presents a human character who knows that he has responsibilities to sponsors and the business side of entertainment and he would probably be the evil corporate bad guy in a more typical Hollywood film.
The film also sports excellent performances from Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey Jr. as a married couple who work behind the scenes on Murrow’s program.
This is George Clooney’s second stint as a director. His first was the mediocre but visually enthralling Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind. Along with cinematographer Robert Elswit, the decision to shoot this piece in black-and-white helps the dark atmosphere of the film, but also gives it a period feel and authenticity. Clooney’s decision to have most of the characters smoking also helped give the film more of a ’50s feel. Seeing the cigarette smoke float into the lights puts the audience right in the middle of this time period. Clooney, above all things, should be praised for not opting to use an actor as Senator Joseph McCarthy and instead uses archival footage.
The Senator himself was a great “actor” who managed to convince the public that Communists could take over the United States. With this film, Clooney doesn’t water down any details or make it an audience friendly film. There are no clear good guys or bad guys. Clooney and co-writer Grant Heslov create real people, great dialogue and a fantastic film of historical importance.
The music, with jazz vocals sung by Dianne Reeves are beautifully edited into the film at the right times. There is no background score, but instead music is heard on the radio and through the airwaves. The editing itself is very well done. There are no quick cutaways. Editor Stephen Mirrione doesn’t go off on tangents and the action isn’t coming out at lightning fast speed.
Overall, this is the best and most important film of the year. Clooney has proved that somewhere in him is true talent as an actor and director. The cast gives magnificent performances, the stark black and white cinematography is beautiful, and the importance of this film, especially with the type of news outlets that are prevalent today, is too important to be ignored. Come Oscar time, this better win some acting awards, as well as Best Picture.
Final Grade: A+
George Clooney and David Strathairn give career-defining performances in this Edward R. Murrow biopic. (Image courtesy cinema.com)