Good Night And Good Luck Reviews

Exquisite...

Who would have thought? Pretty boy ‘Gorgeous George’ Clooney, man of ER fame (and Batman & Robin infamy) has made one of the best films of the last few years.

'Good Night, and Good' Luck is quite simply extraordinary. Clooney’s direction is crisp, wry and intelligent, his writing taut, and his overall vision has resulted in a unique and unforgettable cinematic experience.

Tackling the McCarthy witch-hunt from the standpoint of a CBS newsroom, this is a historical film loaded with relevance for today’s heated political climate. Some might argue that the film’s view is too narrow, that we learn next to nothing about the characters’ private lives.

But that would be looking at it the wrong way: 'Good Night, and Good Luck' is a rare thing. It is a movie that knows exactly what it wants to do, and does it, brilliantly. Loaded with superb performances, exquisitely shot in black and white, this is the movie event of the year.

See it. You won’t regret it.

Cigarettes kill you....

What a find this film is! George Clooney matures as a director in his second outing. Filmed in no thrills B&W this story really captures an era. Almost every scene features a cigarette or two, and it really adds to the ambience. Look out for the authentic Kent cigarettes commercial – it’s superb. The sleazy score is fabulous and Strathairn gives a stunning performance as the crusading Edward Murrow - well supported by Clooney & Robert downey Jnr. Interspersed with real footage of McCarthy, the film shows just how TV has the power to help educate and manipulate the masses. A joy to watch - don't let the dry subject matter put you off. Oscars all round (if there's any justice!).

[Highly rated reviewer]

Good strong political cinema

You've probably heard a lot of good things about this and it is very good indeed. If you've read any reviews you'll know how the film works and the style of the film making is good and fits the film very well. Where the film's strength lies is in its relevance to the current political climate and, to me, that's what I found to be excellent about it. Having the same kind of tension and anticipation as similar journalistic films, the attention isn't really directed towards the ethics of the journalists as much, as more towards the politicians, suggesting that it was the right thing to do, rather than pushing them forward as great American heroes, which it could have been in someone else's hands. Unlike Crash, where the film didn't really capture the essence of what it was trying to say, this film does in as simple a way as it's presented on film, but with the same sledgehammer effect.

Vital viewing

How great would it be if George Clooney was the president of America? Having loved his directorial debut, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, it was inevitable that i'd catch up with this sophomore offering eventually and now I can't wait for his romcom Leatherheads. Good Night and Good Luck was originally conceived as a live broadcast special, and the black and white otherworldliness of 50s America is successfully captured (if you ignore the minor point of the modern day water bottle on the table in one scene). As in Confessions, Clooney takes a minor role here, playing producer Fred W. Friendly to David Strathairn's broadcaster Edward R. Murrow. The Joseph McCarthy reds under the bed witchhunts are in full swing and as a responsible journalist Murrow takes issue with the disregard the senator has for giving those he accuses of 'Unamerican' activities the right to a fair trial. Actual footage of McCarthy is essential for the authenticity of the piece and it's clear that a lot of work has gone into ensuring that the historical details relayed in the movie are above reproach (now there's irony for anyone wrong-headed enough to be a McCarthy supporter). I first heard of the man via R.E.M.'s long player Document from 1987 and indeed Joseph Welch's Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? makes an appearance in the movie. The song illuminates the parallel between the red-baiting of McCarthy's time and the strengthening of the sense of American exceptionalism during the Reagan era. Clooney's film adds the Bush era to the mix and at the end of the movie you find yourself pondering the fact that the lessons that went unlearnt in the Fifties still remain unlearnt today. Vital viewing. Good Night and Good Luck indeed.

Entertaining yet with plenty to say...

Clooney oozes style both in his performance and the mood he sets with his distinctive direction. The film follows the journalists and crew of Ed Murrow's (played sublimely by David Strathairn) CBS program that challenged the methods of McCarthy's communist witch hunt in 1950's America - shot entirely in B&W and punctuated with smooth jazz, its' mood is weighted perfectly and provides entertainment as well as food for thought without ever getting preachy - PLEASE watch this movie!

Smoke and drama

A classy, understated drama, which makes good use of black and white, smoke and lighting to evoke its fifties setting, along with a sprinkling of well chosen fifties songs. But in the absence of twists or explosions it is the performances which have to carry the film, and this they do brilliantly. Strathairn, Clooney, and the supporting cast are utterly believable in their roles. A quiet, intelligent film.

boring

sorry, could not get into this at all. In fact I was so bored I ended up reading my book instead while my husband plodded through it. Sure there's a better story to be told....

Good intelligent filmmaking

I really enjoyed this, gripping, intelligent, well acted, I just wonder at some of the bad reviews to this and films of a similar vain like Syriana, do people not read what the film's about before they rent it, with quotes like 'boring' and 'I fell asleep'. It’s described as a tautly scripted docudrama about Edward R. Murrow's decision to stand up against fiery Senator Joseph McCarthy. That's not going to be to everyone’s taste, my advice to those reviewers is if you read the synopsis (that's the little description of the film) and think it's not going to be your cup of tea, you know what, your probably right!! Rent the latest Stephen Segal film instead.

[Highly rated reviewer]

History repeating.

Not one for a Friday night with a few beers.

Gripping story all the more gripping as it's true, Senator McCarthy had the nation paranoid and was accusing anyone that disagreed with him, sound familiar?

Apart from that, the film tries to show a style and level of investigative journalism that doesn't seem to exist in America anymore, or atleast not that often.

Stellar cast, although Downey Jnr felt alittle out of place.

A Warning from History

This excellent film sets out the battle between Edward R Murrow and Seantor Joseph McCarthy and his UnAmerican Activities Committee which he used to such damaging effect in the 50's.

Excellent performances all round and a script which just gives enough of a comparison with today to be really effective.

This is one of the best movies of recent years and is highly recommended.