Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

O An excellent must-see
O Good video rental
X Mediocre
O Rent something else

Review by Jason Pyles / July 28, 2007

Just in case, allow me to make sure you know three things about this movie before renting it:

First, it is filmed in beautiful black and white. (I mention this because some people refuse to watch black-and-white films.)

Second, even though it was co-written and directed by George Clooney, “Good Night, and Good Luck.” is not a George Clooney film, per se. Sure, he’s in it, but not very much ... just so you know.

Third, unless you’re a history buff, older than 70, or just have an interest in McCarthy’s Red Scare and the 1950s, then this movie probably isn’t for you.

Watching “Good Night, and Good Luck.” feels like you’re dozing off and dreaming during history class. But don’t get me wrong; it’s well done all the way around. This movie is well written, well acted and well ... a little boring. It is only marginally interesting, sometimes.

With a blend of fly-on-the-wall perspective and excellent archival footage, “Good Night, and Good Luck.” plays more like a History Channel documentary, which is a compliment. It recounts the historical fight that CBS’s Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) started with Senator Joseph McCarthy via television broadcast in 1954.

Murrow (and others) were concerned that McCarthy’s Communist fear-mongering was leading to infringements of U.S. citizens’ constitutional rights. In return, McCarthy retorted with accusations that questioned Murrow’s loyalty to the United States. And so on and so forth.

The file footage and old commercials are fascinating, but the film ends rather abruptly and is, overall, not very satisfying.

Directed by George Clooney
David Strathairn / George Clooney / Robert Downey Jr.
93 min. Drama / Historical
(Original MPAA rating: PG)
Edited version age recommendation: 10 and up

DVD release date: September 7, 2006
Copyright 2007.
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