Share and Follow
“Good night, and good luck.” These iconic words, spoken by veteran news reporter Edward R. Murrow, became the hallmark of his sign-offs at the conclusion of each CBS newscast. Half a century later, George Clooney resurrected these words as the title of his historical drama, which chronicles Murrow’s (portrayed by David Strathairn) courageous efforts to unveil U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy’s demagoguery to the American public.
Warner Independent Pictures
In “Good Night, and Good Luck,” Clooney is joined by an impressive ensemble cast, including Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, and Frank Langella. However, it wasn’t the star-studded lineup that earned the film a perfect score from the renowned critic Roger Ebert. Ebert was captivated by the film’s intense focus on the interplay between politics and the news industry, and the meticulous manner in which Murrow and his team orchestrated the eventual downfall of McCarthy.
During this tumultuous period in U.S. history, McCarthy wielded his influence from the House Un-American Activities Committee, leveraging anti-communist sentiment to target his political adversaries, which inevitably included Murrow and his CBS colleagues. Robert Downey Jr. takes on the role of Joseph Wershba, a CBS correspondent who finds himself in jeopardy when his undisclosed marriage to Shirley (played by Patricia Clarkson) violates CBS’s policy against employing married couples.
Strathairn’s performance as Murrow was particularly lauded by critics at the time, with Ebert among those praising his powerful and evocative portrayal. This role cemented Strathairn’s reputation as a formidable actor, earning him his first Oscar nomination and solidifying “Good Night, and Good Luck” as one of the standout films of 2005.
To capture the essence of a 1950s newsroom, Clooney opted to film “Good Night, and Good Luck” in black and white, a creative choice that Ebert noted added a “Citizen Kane” echo to the film. Yet, it was a particular directorial decision highlighted by the Chicago critic that truly lifted the film to greater heights.
Ebert felt one creative decision elevated Good Night, and Good Luck to master status
Warner Independent Pictures
To evoke the feeling of a 1950’s newsroom, George Clooney shot “Good Night, and Good Luck” in black and white, which Ebert highlighted brought to it “an echo of ‘Citizen Kane.’” But the Chicago critic singled out one directorial decision that elevated the film.
Rather than cast an actor to play McCarthy, the senator is instead represented using actual news footage, allowing audiences to see the politician’s dangerous rhetoric for themselves. “It is frightening to see him in full rant,” Ebert says. “And pathetic to see him near meltdown during the Army-McCarthy hearings, when the Army counsel Joseph Welch famously asked him, ‘Have you no decency?’”
While decidedly a period piece, Ebert recognized how it spoke as much to America’s present and future as much as it did its past, at one point describing the movie as “a morality play, from which we learn how journalists should behave.” This unflinching depiction is why, even 20 years later, “Good Night, and Good Luck” stands alongside heavy hitters like “All the President’s Men” and “Spotlight” as one of the best films about journalism.