It’s been an impressive year for George Clooney, he directed, co-wrote, and starred in the impressive Good Night, And Good Luck-while turning in an inspired performance in the brilliant Syriana. This film accurately follows the McCarthy witch-hunts, but it is also about integrity and accuracy in journalism, the medium of television, the politics of corporations, sponsors and the power of economics to affect television news reporting. It is telling that the film opens with Murrow making a warning of the shortcomings and dangers of a vapid use of the medium of television for entertainment only. It is destined to be a classic watched by high school students after reading the McCarthy hearings inspired Crucible by Arthur Miller. Clooney makes some interesting decisions, for example using real footage of McCarthy and filming it entirely in black and white. I think these things add to the feeling of historical archival footage. But is David Strathairn who holds it together with his reserved performance of Edward R. Murrow. Furthermore, Clooney does a good job of projecting the boozy, jazzy, cigarette smoke clouded world of journalism in the 50s. It goes to show that historical dramas don’t have to be drained of their authenticity to be engaging and entertaining.
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