Brilliant, Clooney finally proves his stardom

Rating: 9/10 (15 February 2006)

For the first time since Roseanne, George Clooney impressed me. I have thought since day one that his Hollywood stardom was rather unexplained and undeserving since I have never seen him do anything of any great value. Finally he blows me away by taking the helm as writer, director and actor in Good Night and Good Luck. Of all the Academy Award nominees I have seen this year (I have seen about ten) this is the first one that is truly deserving of Best Picture. Although I wouldn't go so far to say that it's the best movie of the year, it's definitely worthy of being hailed.
Good Night and Good Luck literally transports you back to the time (1950's) of Edward R. Murrow, a CBS investigative reporter who takes on Senator Joe McCarthy on his stance of communism amongst the American People. It's the most time accurate film I have ever seen. You feel like you are right there in the newsroom with them all...watching the story unfold for the first time. The true brilliance in directing for Good Night and Good Luck is that it's almost literally a documentary but a riveting one with a storyline that draws you in. David Strathairn plays Ed Murrow. His quiet demeanor and his low brow commentary, his sheer seriousness brings the power and voice of Murrow to life. It's a very low key performance and at first you might think not worthy of any notable acclaim but upon reflection it's exactly what Murrow was. George Clooney plays producer and Murrow's close confidante Fred Friendly in his first (my opinion) acceptable role. He is low key as well, doesn't try to take the spotlight, does his lines quite well and lets the story unfold. He does a good job supporting Strathairn. Another notable appearance is Ray Wise as CBS Anchorman Don Hollenbeck who tries to support Murrow only to be targeted by McCarthy himself eventually leading to Hollenbeck's suicide. His quiet intensity is one of the best performances in the film as we watch the true repercussions of McCarthy's attacks on a real person. Frank Langella is also very good in his brief role as CBS Head man William Paley. Robert Downey Jr., and Patricia Clarkson round out the cast and they do a good job supporting the main story which is what they are there for. The brilliant part of the casting is the fact that infamous situations and news reports are NOT recreated or dramatized but the real footage is used and McCarthy is never dramatized, it's all very real footage which absolutely adds to the intensity and realism of the film.
Good Night and Good Luck takes you and places you right into the newsroom while they take on McCarthy. It just feels so real and even though the story never really leaves the setting of the newsroom, it's still powerful and interesting and provocative. Clooney really goes above and beyond with this film and the nominations prove it and I must say that it's deserving. History fans, fans of film will truly appreciate Good Night and Good Luck. 9/10