Good Night, and Good Luck easily fits with Network and The Insider to create a trilogy of films focused on the difficulty of communicating the truth, let alone editorial, via commercial television. This film also bookends the other two by taking place before each of them while being produced after. Many scenes are so similar to aspects of Network and therefore predictable at every turn that if not completely based on true events, it might be thought too influenced by Sidney Lumet’s 1976 picture. Clooney’s film, he says, is so factual that each scene is “double-sourced”, meaning that unlike many of todays true stories, every bit of Good Night, and Good Luck happened. Perhaps a dialogue here or there was written but none of it could be considered made up, every moment crafted through testimonials, memoirs and extensive research into everyone’s notes. Just as Murrow made certain that McCarthy could not find an iota of error in his program, Clooney seems to want the same accuracy in the film. Critics might attack his motivation but not his veracity.
As writer-director-actor of Good Night, and Good Luck, a film that lays out his familial and political devotions, George Clooney has created something more reflective of himself than the literal subjects, leaving most of the characters and scenes as merely incidentals, the story told lacking its own powerful worth. Whether perceived as a personal expression or egotistical vanity project, an important film or insignificant yet overstated association, Clooney’s sophomore effort is a simply accomplished piece of cinema on its own terms.
Good Night, and Good Luck plays two shows Friday as part of the festival before opening in limited release on October 7.
Article comments
1 - RJ
A left-wing actor using a movie to whine about the "Red Scare" (which was over half a century ago), and then morph it into as an analogy for the War On Terror?
No thanks...
Here's all you need to know about Clooney:
According to the New York Post's Liz Smith, while accepting an award from the National Board of Review, Clooney wisecracked, "Charlton Heston announced again today that he is suffering from Alzheimer's."
When asked about the statement, Clooney told Smith, "I don't care. Charlton Heston is the head of the National Rifle Association. He deserves whatever anyone says about him."
2 - RogerMDillion
whine about the "Red Scare"
Ah yes, because the FBI was doing such important work back then, investigating the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Loius Armstrong and Lucille Ball to make sure they weren't communists, according to newly released documents.
I guess we know all we need to know about RJ Grande. Just because you are willing to give up your rights doesn't mean the rest of us have to.
3 - randy
Saw this last night in NYC. It's a major film, intelligent, well directed, acted and written. Kudos to Clooney for casting my favorite character actor, David Strathairn, as William Morrow. The black and white cinematography is enthralling, the performances uniformly rock solid. After 8 months in a year of the worst collection of major releases in over two decades, what a pleasure to attend a movie that shows respect for its adult audience. I wish this film all the success it deserves.
The movie's subject definitely speaks to the lack of civility and constructive dialog and discourse in today's press and media. The first comment above is typical: rather than offer constructive criticism as to why the movie didn't work for the writer, instead, it's mudslingin' time.
What a pleasure it would be have broadcasters and journalists of Murrow's integrity working in the industry again.