Good Night, and Good Luck

Starring

David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella

Rated PG
 

            “Good Night, and Good Luck” is one of the best films of the year. George Clooney made his directorial debut with the incredibly wacky “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” but his second film is far more insightful and spectacular. Reminiscent of “Raging Bull” in the way it uses black-and-white film to recreate a specific time period, the film is one of the more involving you’ll see all year.

            David Strathairn, an actor who I’ve always admired, finally gets a lead role as Edward R. Murrow, the host of CBS show “See It Now” in the 1950’s. Murrow, determined to dethrone anti-Communist Senator Joseph McCarthy and his borderline insane actions, causes a controversy at CBS, where chief William Paley (Frank Langella) is nervous about the backlash involved while producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) is all game to tackle the big guns. Murrow eventually makes McCarthy out to be a fool, and his shows dedicated to the idiotic “communist” attacks eventually lead to McCarthy’s downfall/trial.

            The cast is made even better by the presence of people like Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, and Jeff Daniels. Clooney has gone from “Ocean’s Twelve” to this masterpiece, and it makes one anxious for “Syriana,” his December film directed by Stephen Gaghan.

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