Films like this make me love movies...

Rating: 9/10 (5 November 2005)

I was very impressed with nearly every aspect of this film.
First, the look and the feel of this film is just amazing. The camera-work and editing were top-notch and definitely Oscar worthy. The black-and-white film used gave Good Night, and Good Luck the feel that it was taken straight out of the stock of film reels from the 1950s.
Second, it was less of a shot at conservatives and more of a shot at modern day television and where it's going. At the end of the film, the final speech give by Murrow was a definite sign of where things were going to go if we let this box corrupt us. In the end, it's more like NETWORK than an attack of the conservative right.
Third, the ensemble cast was just amazing. Clooney, Downey Jr, Clarkson and Daniels were all good, but the two supporting roles that stood out (to me) were Ray Wise and Frank Langella. Wise, as depressed news anchor Don Hollenbeck, added some emotion to a story that would've lacked a little in the humility department if Wise hadn't been in the film. Langella, although was only in the film for about ten minutes, was explosive as CBS President William Haley and gives a lot of fatherly guidance to the relatively younger staff.
Of course, this film would be nothing without David Strathairn. He wasn't an actor portraying Edward R. Morrow; he BECAME Edward R. Morrow. This is what acting is all about. His mannerisms, the tapping of his toes, the chain smoking, his sharp-wit, etc. It was a pure joy to see this acting done today. So far, his work is the best I've seen, but this won't be the last film I'll see this year.
George Clooney should be commended for this film. With this film, he's evolved from a Hollywood Actor to a true artist. Most conservatives are ripping him for making this film, but if they knew that his father was a television journalist at around the same time, they'd realize that this event had a huge effect on his family. To me, this was the film he was destined to make and in the long run, this is what he'll be remembered for. He knew that in order for him to make this film great, he'd have take a step back and let the ensemble, not him, carry the film. Films like this give me hope that great films will always be coming, no matter what crap is released these days.
Rating: 9/10 (because no film is ever 10)
Oscar Chances: Best Picture, Best Director, *Best Actor - David Strathairn, Best Supporting Actor - Frank Langella, *Best Original Screenplay, *Best Cinematography, *Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design
* - IMO, immortal locks. the rest are all up for grabs