Good Night, and Good Luck

We know George Clooney as many things. Actor. Activist. But with his directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind he showed himself to have a great deal of skill as a director also. Whilst flawed in many ways, the story of Chuck Barris is a compelling tale of the corruption of fame and the drive to be something we are not. It is a film I hold in very high regard.

Clooney's penchant for biopics continues with Good Night, and Good Luck, his second film as a director. The story of Edward R Murrow and the CBS team that stood up to Joe McArthy in the 50s is just as compelling as Clooney's first film, and perhaps is less flawed overall. Shot wholly in black and white, Clooney makes use of historical newsreels and actual footage of the time and integrates it smoothly into his narrative. Whilst preachy at times, it is an important tale about what happens to society when fear takes over from common sense and civil liberties are thrown away because of it.

Clooney intersperses his narrative with some beautiful music from Diane Reeves singing some great 50s jazz. In my mind, whilst this was a great effect, it slowed the story a little too much. With one exception: a gorgeously framed close up of lead David Strathairn that he rests on for so long it's mesmerising. The historical footage is well placed, but sometimes too heavily relied on. Perhaps this is part of commentary of the film though. In this day and age where we get 40 second hits of news that is catered to entertain and sensationalise, it isn't hard to understand why I found it uncomfortable watching a 2 minute newsreel from the 50s.

The film has a lot to say, all of it profound, and it delivers it's message in an entertaining manner. At times I lost engagement, but I think it's a piece of cinema that will definately stand up to a second viewing. Check it out, especially for Straithairn's powerhouse performance.