ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

GEORGE CLOONEY is fast becoming the standard bearer for political filmmaking in America. A liberal fascinated by the power of the media, he has earned Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for ‘Good Night, And Good Luck’.

It is an elegantly handled tale of journalistic integrity and one man’s decision to take a stand against the anti-Communist hysteria of the 1950s. Brilliantly played by Best Actor Oscar nominee David Straithairn, Ed Murrow is a legendary figure among American journalists.

He was universally respected. In 1954, he decided that the time had come to challenge the bully boy tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy who was making wild claims that Communists had infiltrated every aspect of American society.

Anyone who dared to mention the right of free speech was branded unpatriotic. Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) decided to submit McCarthy to trial by media and end his reign of terror.

The film is an utterly compelling account of the corporate politics, vested interests and subtle pressures that came into play once Murrow and his team had embarked on their course of action.

Filmed in gorgeous black and white and set to some smooth jazz classics, ‘Good Night, And Good Luck’ is a class act all the way. The story is fascinating, the performances are impeccable and it doesn’t waste a moment of screen time.

Some have suggested that it simplifies what was a much more complicated issue, but when you consider the general state of American cinema it is an intelligent, approachable and thoroughly absorbing film.

Nationwide release

Director: George Clooney
Stars: David Straithairn, Patricia Clarkson, George Clooney, Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr, Frank Langella
Screenplay: George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Certificate: PG
Running time: 93 mins
Country: USA
Year: 2005

© Allan Hunter, 2006