Good Night, and Good Luck.

History lesson? A lot of films are even when they're not biopics or sweeping epics. This one really is straight from the pages of history, being Edward R. Murrow's "attack" on Senator Joseph McCarthy and his House Unamerican Activities Committee. Attack is in quotes because Murrow does not so much attack as try to reveal the whole truth, at the same time providing editorial comment. Every minute of this film is fascinating as a result -- from George Clooney's schlumpy producer to Ray Wise's unstable, fearful co-anchor to, of course, David Strathairn's layered rendition of Murrow. Strathairn is a marvel, no more so than during the few minutes preceding his first editorial. He clearly becomes more and more nervous as the seconds tick by, chain smoking like a fiend, but focused on the task at hand and obviously far more eager for this type of news show than the insipid programs he usually anchors. Clooney has done two brave things: shot his film in black and white, thereby alienating one half of his potential audience immediately, and had McCarthy play himself, which doesn't necessarily alienate the other half, but creates more difficult situations for the screenwriter (i.e., how to integrate film of McCarthy and still have the story flow). Clooney's decision to include the story of the husband and wife (Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson) who kept their marriage secret from their co-workers is far less successful even though it does mirror the secrecy and fear inherent in the creation of the Committee itself. It feels added on to the plot. Still, for those of us who are fascinated and impressed by the actor-turned- director Clint Eastwood, I think the protégé has arrived.

year: 2005
length: 93 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433383/combined