Good Night, and Good Luck

Director: George Clooney

Arguably one of the finest films of 2005, George Clooney’s meticulously crafted black and white masterpiece stars David Straitharn as legendary CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow in an Oscar nominated performance that was so impressive that I found myself forgetting it was an actor shortly into the picture. Fast-paced and intense-- running roughly ninety minutes-- we’re completely caught up in the world of broadcast TV journalism as in 1953, during the height of its popularity, Murrow boldly decides to take on Senator Joseph McCarthy (played by himself in real footage) who’s been using the airwaves irresponsibly to terrify and condemn Americans in his communist “witch hunts.” Nominated for six Oscars including Best Picture, Director and Screenplay, some critics have also noted that the timely release of Clooney’s film makes it appear as an allegory of both the current government and our state of media manipulation practices that craft campaigns of fear on the nightly news in order to dominate the viewers. In any case, the must-see film is a true work of excellence with admirable attention to detail and obviously lovingly but painstakingly accurate research. The entire ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson and Frank Langella is quite good, although it’s Straitharn’s tour-de-force that commands our attention the most. Unfortunately, 2005 was overly crowded with fine biographical male portrayals including Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line and the ultimate Oscar winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in Capote. In addition to the authentic, smoky, black and white atmosphere, a wonderful soundtrack by Dianne Reeves helps keep Good Night, and Good Luck from being far too somber although I was so enraptured by its intensity that I didn’t even notice the jazzy selections until a third viewing. Check it out below.

Music by Dianne Reeves

“One For My Baby”


“Straighten Up and Fly Right”


“How High The Moon”


“When I Fall In Love”


“Too Close for Comfort”


“Solitude”


“TV Is The Thing This Year”


“You’re Driving Me Crazy”


“I’ve Got My Eyes On You”


“Who’s Minding The Store?”


“There’ll Be Another Spring”


“Pick Yourself Up”


“Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall”


“Gotta Be This Or That”


“Pretend”