Good Night and Good Movie

I loved this film. It is about Edward R. Murrow, CBS anchor from the 1950’s. During the time of the McCarthy trials, Murrow uses television journalism to stand up to the unorthodox/unconstitutional tactics used by Senator Joseph P. McCarthy in McCarthy’s communist “witch hunt” trials.

David Strathairn does a phenomenal job of playing Ed Murrow. He very acurately portrays Murrow’s distinct voice as well as Murrow’s chain smoking. George Clooney directed the film very well, and Clooney actually does a good job acting in the film too as CBS producer Fred Friendly. The other actors/actresses, though many are “big names” don’t play a very significant role in the movie, so their performances aren’t much to speak of: Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, etc..

I found the moive to be very thought provoking and moving. It is a great look at defending one’s consitutional rights and how media can be used as a force for good. It is also a great look at how ridiculous accusations can be made with little or no evidence, and those accusations can get credence simply because people are living in fear. It is a reminder that we have to judge situations using facts not hearsay or assumptions. Government should be used to protect the rights of the individual. Each individual is entitled to a fair and speedy trial, and the burden of proof (legitimate proof) should always rest on the prosecution not the defendent.

It was a really neat movie with excellent acting and cinematography. I also loved how they seemlessly tied in the actual television footage of McCarthy’s rebuttal, and the trials: beautiful editing. The soundtrack was pretty sparse, but that’s what I’d expect from a film like this. Overall well done! I’d go see it again but not immediately; it is a movie I would own.