Good Night and Good Luck
Warner Home Video
Rated PG

Review by: Larry Thomas

George Clooney's Good Night and Good Luck is a look at the time when broadcast journalism came of age. In 1954, CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow decided to take on Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his congressional inquisition into Communists in every walk of life. It made history, and also let Americans know that challenge and dissent are part of the political process.

David Straithairn is magnificent as Murrow, getting the mannerisms right, without doing an outright impersonation. The supporting cast includes Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, Ray Wise, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, and co-writer and director Clooney. The soundtrack score consists mainly of jazz standards sung by Dianne Reeves, all of which are relevant to the plot.

Shot in hazy black-and-white, the film looks great, sounds great, and is great. This is Clooney's second outing as a director, and he is going to have a long career behind the camera.