Lacking intensity.

Rating: 7/10 (5 April 2006)

Good Night, and Good Luck is George Clooney's first serious attempt at directing a high-profile film, and the results are mixed. The film is a treasure to look at for those of us who like to watch b&w films. Everyone is smoking all the time and that along with the jazz music, gives the picture an old-school classy feeling. But overall, the film just was not as intense as its main character's story should have been.
The film deals with CBS anchor Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) and his attempts to tell America about Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy and his anti-communist campaigns. George Clooney plays Fred Friendly, the producer of his weekly news show. The fact that Clooney won an Oscar for this performance is mind-boggling. His character is little more than window dressing as Strathairn easy walks away with the entire movie. Oh well, what does the Academy know? Just ask the Brokeback crowd about that one.
We see Murrow and his newsroom pals at CBS become increasingly outspoken about McCarthy and his tactics. This was a time when the government could push back, however, and we see them lean on the network to some degree. ALCOA, who sponsors the show, also decides to back out. Murrow & CO. don't back down until a network honcho (Langella) basically takes Murrow off the air save for 5 shows per year that will be shown on Sunday afternoons. The film begins and ends with Murrow giving a speech to his colleagues and warning that television must keep from becoming too entertainment oriented. He hopes that television will always ask the tough questions and so forth... that's pretty much about it.
Without Strathairn's performance, this film would not be worth watching. Every shot of his face captures and intensity and the need to tell his side of things that the rest of the film strangely seems to lack. It's just too laid back and leisurely for its subject matter. The film is rated PG, but that almost seems too harsh. Maybe a swear word or two might have helped hammer home the urgency of Clooney's message. Do you really suppose nobody swore in that newsroom? The film deals with Joe McCarthy by only showing news footage of him. You pretty much get the picture that this man was a grand-standing and intimidating type. Even though communism was a threat to America, McCarthy's tactics of character assassination may have been extreme, indeed. Also, the man had about the worst hair I've ever seen. Heck, even Joe Biden's garden of hair plugs looks better than that! This was a decent but unspectacular effort for Clooney. He will no doubt improve as a filmmaker, but this was a good place for him to start. If nothing else, the film shows a good example of the workings of an old TV newsroom. So quaint, and with all that smoke I'll bet most of them died of lung cancer! 7 of 10 stars.
Good night, and good luck from the Hound.