Review of Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) by Luke G — 23 Mar 2012
In the directorial debut from Academy Award winner George Clooney (Syriana, Oceans Eleven, ER), this six-time Academy Award nominated film brings to life a true story regarding CBS television in the 1950s.
While tensions were at their highs during the Cold War, television was growing as a new source of news to the world. Allegations were made of communist people all over the United States because of the state of terror.
All of these emotions were portrayed effortlessly in the film. Academy Award nominee David Strathairn for his performance as Edward R. Murrow crafts a powerful and serious character out of a complex situation.
Strathairn's role is mostly comprised of sitting in front of the camera and delivering long and drawn out monologues. Strathairn keeps us mesmerized by his critical and powerful passion and devotion to this character.
I am only going to single out Strathairn and Clooney for their acting performances, because this article will be too long to read. Clooney's directing made a large mark in film history with this, because it is a black-and-white film.
This is a huge risk, because if it doesn't pay off, it will look like a bad film weighed down by having no color. But, luckily, Clooney has a hit with the film, and you don't even need color! It adds to the 50s feel of the film and the birth of television news.
Brilliance! The cast consists of Academy award nominees Patricia Clarkson (Pieces of April, Far From Heaven, The Green Mile), Robert Downey Jr. (Chaplin, Tropic Thunder, Iron Man), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), and Golden Globe nominee Jeff Daniels (The Squid and the Whale, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Something Wild).
I cannot begin to tell you what a fantastic cast this is, so obviously the film will be a treat. Though it is boring at some points and drags on for a long while, Good Night, And Good Luck's superior acting cast and amazing lead actor and director carry the film to a great oscar run, and an amazing mark on film history.
This review of Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) was written by Luke G on 23 Mar 2012.
Good Night, and Good Luck. has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
