Strathairn earns his Oscar Nom in this gripping social commentary

Rating: 9/10 (30 May 2006)

Good Night, and Good Luck was the closing phrase in every broadcast of famous CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow. It was also the title of the 2005 6-time academy award nominated movie that details the exploits of Murrow and his fellow crew members of the CBS News team in 1954 against Joseph McCarthy, the infamous Junior Senator from Wisconsin who literally carried a laundry list with him of "names" of people who at one point were supposedly associated with the Communist party. After Murrow attacked McCarthy on air, the senator attempted to rebut Murrow's statements nearly a month later and this argument captivated the nation and opened their eyes to the ridiculous exploits of Senator McCarthy. The fear of the Soviet Union and Communism was at an all-time high when Murrow and CBS News made their move against McCarthy. There was a huge response to the program shortly after it went off the air. The responses were surprisingly positive, lauding Murrow's bravery and willingness to make his true voice heard. Most people were afraid to express their true disdain for McCarthy and Murrow made it okay to voice your opinion and not be afraid of being condemned. On the other hand, there were many right-wing supporters of McCarthy who thought that Murrow's claims were ridiculous and that he was going against his country as a member of the Communist party. The thing that made this movie watchable above all things was the look. It was filmed in black and white and this was an outstanding decision because it made the audience felt like it was back in that time period in that newsroom with those people feeling the intensity of the moments of Murrow's on-air crusade against McCarthy. David Strathairn definitely earned his Best Actor Nomination as Murrow, drawing in the audience as though he were the newsman himself and making care about every single word that he said. While there are not very many nuances to the character, it is still a very strong character that is headstrong and immensely intelligent. George Clooney breaks away from his pretty-boy image as the writer, director, and star of this movie. He really shows that he is a force to be reckoned with not just in Hollywood, but in the world as well. Overall, Good Night, and Good Luck was an immensely satisfying experience, both from an entertainment standpoint and an educational standpoint as well.