Not quite Dr, Strangelove

Rating: 9/10 (15 February 2007)

I teach this film to my final year English Studies students in Australia. I prep them with Dr. Strangelove the year before and still feel that there was so much to laugh about regarding "the Red Scare" that a comedic representation of the era best summarises it.
Good Night and Good Luck looks at the CBS news team's crusade against sleazeball Senator at the time, Joseph McCarthy. The film is factual with real footage spliced through from the farcical hearings in late 1963-1964.
The smooth jazz interludes coupled with the symbols of old school relaxation techniques (whisky and cigarettes) make for a great atmosphere. You come out of the film feeling that smoking is cool! While it lacks the necessary amounts of humour at times, this film is a great example of good speech writing and delivery, courtesy of David Strathairn's character, Ed Murrow.