Dir: George Clooney

Starring; David Straithairn, George Clooney, Tate Donovan, Robert Downey Jr.

When Alfred Hitchcock decided to shoot a film in black and white, even though colour technology was readily available, it (being Psycho) quickly became a cinematic masterpiece. George Clooney chose the same methodology, and without a shadow of a doubt, it was the correct decision. I never thought I would be classing Clooney in the same league as Hitchcock in filmmaking genius, especially as Good Night, and Good Luck is just his second film, but after watching this film, it is surprisingly the case.

Good Night, and Good Luck chronicles the factual story of Edward Murrow  who, with the help of his broadcast team, aimed to bring down the McCarthyism that reigned over 1950’s America. Set in the time when Senator McCarthy went on a rampage of communist and witch hunts, continually accusing people of being traitors and jailing them without trial. Many disagreed with it, and most were disgusted but were too scared to speak out. So, with the words “We will not walk in fear of one another”, it was left to Edward Murrow in his CBS news programme to speak out for them and suffer the backlash.

This film is, simply put, a masterpiece and, believe me, no-one is more surprised than me that I am praising the ingenuity of one George Clooney. Not only for his magnificent direction but also, dare I say it, an excellent performance on screen as well. The film is reminiscent of All the President’s Men with its fast-paced newsroom and thought provoking plot. This is a film with a subject matter that you have to read up on the moment you leave the cinema. Its impressive newsroom scenes give a subliminal tip-of-the-hat to Citizen Kane and Clooney’s use of motifs and symbolism are nothing short of Hawksian.

Cigarettes are highly symbolic of the time and film as a whole. For it was Ed Murrow who lit the fire that silenced Senator McCarthy. The symbolism shone through this film and maybe gave light to the current situation in the Whitehouse.

The acting was nothing short of superb. With all the debate of Iranian Cinema at the Berlin Film Festival, it is interesting to note that in this film the actors were easily as brilliantly characterised and symbolic of society as they are in Iranian films.

David Strathairn was outstanding and my previous Oscar pick of Joaquin Phoenix must surely be under threat. Clooney could not put a foot wrong in this film and played his role to perfection. Jeff Daniels, Tate Donovan and the ever-impressive Robert Downey Jr. were infallible in their roles.

The lighting, cinematography and editing was effective to say the least.

Clooney’s directorial input was at it’s strongest with the inclusion of archival footage chosen over an actor as Senator McCarthy. The real footage of the past added so much to the movie in terms of realism and made the audience feel just as the people who lived through it did. George Clooney has made a cinematic landmark and I think 33 award nominations prove that point. This is will be seen for years to come and is not one to easily forget. A political and perpetual masterpiece.

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