In 1950s America, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy caused much hullabaloo with his high profile hunt for communists as the head of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Relying upon forcing others to "name names" and often claiming to have private lists of communists working in government and Hollywood, he created an environment of fear and paranoia, the effects of which could be argued are still being felt in America today.
Television as a medium was just hitting its stride in the 50s, and one on air personality equally adept at fluffy celebrity profiles as hard hitting investigative pieces was one Edward R. Murrow (David Srathairn). Along with his producer Fred Friendly (played by co-writer/director George Clooney), and the staff of their CBS current affairs programme See It Now, Murrow took direct aim at McCarthy and his tactics of intimidation and scare-mongering. McCarthy's feathers were ruffled, as were those of Murrow and Friendly's superiors.
Clooney (and his co-writer/co-producer Grant Heslov) clearly sees parallels with the current American political climate, and has stated so in numerous interviews. This film contains many inspirational platitudes about not bowing into fear etc, but this doesn't undermine its message.
What has been created here is an intelligent, interesting movie with a powerhouse of a performance at its centre (Strathairn's), but it's a film that is ultimately a little dry.
It could be argued that creative flourishes might've diluted the message, but the story could've used a little more personality at times. The scenes play out in an arid, flat style that can fails to truly grip the viewer on more than only a couple of occasions.
Clooney does, however, manage to convey through the restraint a romantic sense of what working in a TV news studio in 1950s New York might've been like - the smoke filled meetings filled with suited men discussing big ideas; the post-broadcast drinking sessions in the local watering hole; the excitement of the live broadcasts furthered by the knowledge they were doing something brave and important.
Good Night and Good Luck (Murrow's closing phrase at the end of each broadcast) will cause anyone watching it to think a great deal, but perhaps not to feel so much. It may be an overly simplistic way of looking at a movie with such pertinent themes, but the message could only be more potent and memorable if the viewer was tied into it more emotionally.
That said, there is plenty to enjoy in the film, not least of which is David Strathairn's remarkable central performance. Strathairn's weathered face has been hovering around the edges of American cinema in character roles for more than two decades now, with John Sayles one of the only directors perceptive enough to give him a leading role.
As Murrow, he is composed yet forceful; authoritative yet hesitant. Strathairn is able to convey a range or emotions without ever losing his cool or putting down his ever-present cigarette. A lack of Oscar attention would be a travesty, and hopefully this will clue the rest of Hollywood onto just what the underappreciated actor is capable of.
Clooney is serviceable as Friendly, doing his best to hide his leading man looks behind thick glasses. As he demonstrated in his debut film as a director, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, he possesses (an actor's?) knack for casting fine, interesting performers in smaller roles, and here we are treated to the likes of Patricia Clarkson; Frank Langella; Robert Downey Jr, and most memorably Ray Wise (perhaps best known as Laura Palmers' dad in Twin Peaks) as the flawed newsreader Don Hollenbeck.
Clooney employed the interesting method of having Senator McCarthy play himself through the use of archived news footage. He makes for a suitably blustering movie villain, and the film makes good use of the ingrained discomfort footage of his "hearings" elicits.
Good Night and Good Luck is an important film, the themes of which couldn't be more relevant (or pronounced). It will stir your mind, but perhaps not your heart.
Recommended.
Dominic Corry
Good Night and Good Luck is in cinemas now.
