Box Office Poison reviews: George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck"

I recently had a chance to go and see George Clooney's latest film, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

"Good Night, and Good Luck" chronicles the turbulent times and tales of legendary newsman - and broadcast pioneer - Edward R. Murrow and his infamous battle with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Communist "witch hunts" of the 1950's. This eloquent film - in all it's black and white beauty - does a fabulous job of exposing the hypocrisy present in Cold War politics - which still, sadly, runs rampant in this day and age - and the dangers faced by the brave media men and women who try and expose them.

In a time of illegal wars - and the "news networks" that whitewash them - this film by Clooney speaks volumes of the dangers of political power abused and misused at the highest levels - in the most "fair and balanced" fashion possible.

In an age where "broadcast journalists" are disgusted by the fact that today's youth prefer to get their "news" from such sources as Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" (a satirical show that speaks more - in volumes and spoofs - than any network news format on the air today), "Good Night, and Good Luck" is a thankful throwback to a time when people in the television industry risked it all - all for the sake of speaking the truth to the masses through the much-maligned medium of television.

The fact that Clooney portrays Murrow "bashing" the very medium he uses to bring down the bad guys is the most fascinating aspect of this very important American film. It's a must-see for every "patriot" who relishes their First Amendment "freedom of speech" rights in this most troubled day and age.

GRADE: A-

The id Oscar nods go to:

Best Actor - David Strathairn (Edward R. Murrow)
Best Film - "Good Night, and Good Luck"
Best Director - George Clooney
Best Screenplay - George Clooney and Grant Heslov

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