Good Night and Good Luck

There are few moments that define a medium. Television has had a few crowning achievements: Walter Cronkite saying that the war in Vietnam wasnt going to work, one of the other great achievements was Edward R. Murrow’s attack on Senator McCarthy’s “Redscare” hearings on Communism in America. The extent McCarthy went to to try and prove his point was down right unconstitutional and there were few who dared stand up to him, and the Movie Good Night and Good Luck tells the story of the group of people brave enough to try and take down the man who put fear in all of America.

The Movie
It’s 1953, and the piece of talking furniture called TV is still a novelty in America’s loving rooms. On it, Sen. Joseph McCarthy uses fear, falsehoods and belligerence to become arguably the most powerful man in the land. On it, newsman Edward R. Murrow, who’s had his fill of the senator’s tactics, fights back.

That Pivotal clash of two titans is the focus of director/co-writer George Clooney’s award-winning Good Night and Good Luck. David Strathairn protrays Murrow, the principled “face of television” who maps his strategy with his producer and confidant, Fred Friendly (Clooney). A deft ensemble play staff members in the bustling battleground that is the CBS newsroom. McCarthy is in the mix, too, intercut into the action via real-life footage. Don’t touch that Dial. A media and a nation are going to change - while on the air.

With 2 movies under his belt George Clooney has become as tremendous a talent behind the camera as he is in front of the camera. Every director has that one project their really passionate about (with the exception of Spielberg who has had 2), this is Clooney’s passion project, he grew up in the news environment; his father was a newsman, and his seeing it and his approval meant more to him than any award. And I must say this one gets it right!
Rating: 9 out of 10

Transfer
Shot entirely in Black & White to maintain the integrity of the archived footage of McCarthy Good Night and Good Luck looks great. Black levels are consistant no compression artifacts or edge enhancement are present. But with the lack of a color pallet makes judging this 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is kinda hard.
Rating: 8 out of 10

Audio
Given a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundmix, though it does not use it, a totally dialouge driven film so your center speaker will get its work out while watching this movie but while its very clear it’s the only speaker that’ll get used.
Rating: 5 out of 10

Extras
Slim on extras this edition of Good Night and Good Luck features a audio commentary by Director George Clooney and his writing partner Grant Heslov, which is very informative but there are moments of silence inbetween their conversation so they’ll be talking and then suddenly nothing and then they’ll start talking again. Other than the commentary there is a making of featurette that is nice to watch at least once. Then there is the original theatrical trail, and thats it.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Overall
Without force-feeding its timely message, Good Night, and Good Luck illuminates history to enlighten our present, when the need for a free and independent press is more important than ever, George Clooney has brought a film that will likely be shown in Government and journalism classes for years to come.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Good Night and Good Luck
Movie: 9
Transfer:8
Audio: 5
Extras: 4
Overall: 6.5
Director: George Clooney
Format: 1.85:1 anamorphic Widescreen
Sound: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Rated: PG
Genre: Drama
Studio: Warner Independent
Buy Good Night Good Luck on DVD

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