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Goodnight, and good luck - David Strathairn, Robert Downey Junior, ray Wise, Frank Langella, George Clooney

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In a nation terrorised by its own government one man dared to tell the truth.

About the renowned CBS News anchor Edward R Murrow's (David Strathairn) legendary on-air confrontations with red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy that helped bring down the infamous politician in the mid-1950s. The film traces the true story of how Murrow and his producer, Fred Friendly (George Clooney), helped bring an end to the tyranny of the blacklist and the house Un-American Activities Committee' anti-Communist hearings. With the platform provided by his CBS News program See it now, Murrow challenged McCarthy on his claims that hundreds of avowed communists were working covertly as Soviet spies in the US government, among other allegations that at the time had the power to destroy lives and careers.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film drama Edward R Murrow TV Joseph McMarthy communism Senate spy USSR USA freedom

Persons of interest

Alex Borstein .... Natalie
Robert John Burke .... Charlie Mack
Patricia Clarkson .... Jenny Darmondy
George Clooney .... Fred Friendly
Jeff Daniels .... Frank Stanton
Reed Diamond .... John Aaron
Tate Donovan .... Jesse Zousmer
Robert Downey Junior .... Jimmy Darmondy
Frank Langella .... William Paley
Thomas McCarthy .... Palmer Williams
Glenn Morshower .... Colonel Anderson
Matt Ross .... Eddie Scott
David Strathairn .... Edward R Murrow
Ray Wise .... Hollenbeck
Grant Heslov .... Screenwriter
George Clooney .... Screenwriter
George Clooney .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Goodnight, and good luck official movie site
Goodnight, and good luck film production notes (.rtf)
Goodnight, and good luck QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS - Oscars) 2005: Nominated: Performance by an actor in a leading role (David Strathairn), Achievement in art direction (Jim Bissell, Jan Pascale), Achievement in cinematography (Robert Elswit), Achievement in directing (George Clooney), Best motion picture of the year, Original screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov)
American Film Institute (AFI) 2005: Movie of the year - Official selection
Bangkok International Film Festival 2006: Special Presentations
Cinematic intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2005: Nominated: Best script (Grant Heslov, George Clooney), Best actor - Male (David Strathairn as Edward R Murrow), Best crime-fighter (Edward R Murrow - David strathairn)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) 2005: Nominated: Film (Grant Heslov), David Lean Award for achievement in direction (George Clooney), Original screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov), Editing (Stephen Mirrione), Actor in a leading role (David Strathairn), Actor in a supporting role (George Clooney)
Film Critics Circle of Australia 2006: Won: Best Foreign Film - English Language
Hollywood Foreign press Association (Golden Globes) 2005: Nominated: Picture - Drama, actor In A Leading Role - Drama (David Strathairn), Director (George clooney), Screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov)
Independent Spirit Awards 2006: Won: Best cinematography (Robert Elswit); Nominated: Best feature, Best director (George Clooney), Best male lead (David Strathairn)
London Film Festival 2005: Closing night film
Online Film Critics Society Awards 2005: Nominated: Best picture, Best Director (George Clooney), Best actor (David Strathairn), Best original screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov), Best cinematography (Robert Elswit), Best editing (Stephen Mirrione)
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005: Nominated: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (David Strathairn), Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion picture

Venice Film Festival 2005: Won: Colpa Volpi - Best Actor (David Strathairn), Oscella - Best screenplay (Gorge Clooney, Grant Heslov)
Writers Guild of America 2005: Nominated: Original screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov)

NB: Black and white
See also Bowling for Columbine: What a wonderful world, Newsfront, Far from Heaven
Studios and distributors:

Dendy Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

If you ever had any curiosity as to the political leanings of George Clooney then Goodnight, and good luck will set you straight. It's not that one has to be a trendy, greenie, commie, pinko, lefty, bleeding-heart liberal to see Joseph McCarthy as a force for evil - but it helps. And you might wonder why a Hollywood heavyweight like George Clooney is making a movie about Right Wing repression of freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of the media (not to mention promoting the odd bit of fearmongering), especially in today's society where personal freedom and human rights are celebrated the world throughout.

I haven't been able to figure that one out, yet.

Meanwhile, Goodnight, and good luck is a great way to see how TV was made back in the 1950s and how life was back in the 1950s, so it's historically significant on three fronts. Acting-wise, you get some good work from David Strathairn and Frank Langella, while the rest of the cast are never less than adequate.

Knowing how things turn out always makes for a duller viewing, but Goodnight, and good luck still has some bang for the more intellectual viewers among us. It's not a great film but it is good.