"People want to enjoy themselves, they don't want a civics lesson!"

Rating: 6/10 (6 February 2007)

Surprisingly compact behind-the-scenes struggle at the CBS Network's news division in late 1953-early 1954, when Senator Joseph McCarthy was running rampant with his communist theories and threats, and television newsman Edward R. Murrow steadily hoped to expose him for the hypocrite and headline-grabber that he was. Director/co-screenwriter/co-star George Clooney displays a great feeling for this era in time, and for tawdry show business tactics; he knows with certainty the feeling of workplace camaraderie, but also the politics of the game--and how most of it comes wrapped up in a glossy package. McCarthy is represented solely by real news footage, which puts most of the focus (some may say one-sided) on David Strathairn's Murrow; Strathairn was certainly not encouraged to give his Murrow many shades, and the man comes off as singularly stolid. However, the supporting performances are mostly all wonderful, including Clooney's turn as an associate producer, Frank Langella as the news manager for CBS, and Ray Wise as the fragile news-anchor who follows Murrow every night (and is lambasted as a "pinko" for taking Murrow's side). The film, while not "electrifying" (as Rolling Stone called it), is sleek and to the point, though the quasi-flashback framing device is puzzling and some of the details aren't quite clear for those who weren't around in the '50's (is Murrow reporting for "See It Now" or is this his follow-up news-show "Person To Person"?). A fine achievement overall, with great music and gorgeous black-and-white cinematography. **1/2 from ****