Most will usually agree that the standard of modern day broadcast journalism was set with the help of one man. This man sought out to only bring discussion and truth to his broadcasts, especially during a time that greatly needed it. It is because of him, that occasionally real, important, and hard hitting journalism is still able to be crafted and the world is better for it. But sometimes, as happens more often than not, giving in to other influences and interests, keeps the masses from being more informed.
The Warner Independent Pictures film “Good Night, and Good Luck.”, is a powerful and subtle character driven film on the people who stood up to a tyrant and helped alter the course of history.
This biographical drama stars David Strathairn (“The Blacklist”, “Z: The Beginning of Everything”), Patricia Clarkson (upcoming “Delirium”, “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials”), George Clooney (upcoming “Money Monster”, “Hail, Caesar!”), Jeff Daniels (“Allegiant”, “The Martian”), Robert Downey Jr. (upcoming “Captain America: Civil War”, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), Frank Langella (upcoming films “Youth in Oregon”, “All the Way”), Ray Wise (upcoming “God’s Not Dead 2”, “Fresh Off the Boat”), Robert John Burke (“Law & Order: SVU”, “Allegiance”), Reed Diamond (“Underground”, “Elementary”), Tate Donovan (upcoming “Elvis & Nixon”, “The Mysteries of Laura”), Grant Heslov (“The Monuments Men”, “Lost Angeles”), Tom McCarthy (“Pixels”, “Little Fockers”), Matt Ross (“American Horror Story”, “Silicon Valley”), Rose Abdoo (upcoming “Gilmore Girls: Seasons”, “Trust Fund”), Alex Borstein (“Family Guy”, “Bordertown”), Peter Jacobson (“Colony”, “Madam Secretary”), Robert Knepper (upcoming “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”, “iZombie”), and Diane Reeves (“2008 St. Lucia Jazz Festival”).
The film is directed by Clooney (“The Monuments Men”, “The Ides of March”) and written by Clooney (“The Monuments Men”, “The Ides of March”) and Heslov (“The Monuments Men”, “The Ides of March”).
The film originally opened on Oct. 7, 2005 in a limited run and later opened wide on Nov. 4. It would go on to be nominated for six Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
As we come to the final films in this journalism series, it’s time we visit one of the most notable periods in history as well as a time in journalism that is still regarded highly by so many. This period greatly influenced history and set a gold standard for broadcast journalism, as well as journalism in general. The journalists that have come since then truly owe a big debt, and hopefully strive every day to uphold this view and what it means to be a working journalist.
This film deals with journalist Edward R. Murrow, and his team at the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), as they take on Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist witch hunt. Along with that, it’s simply a character study on those who worked hard to bring about the truth on a nightly news program that many people watched, and could use to judge for themselves what the true intent of McCarthy’s hunt was.
And now to the film, that continues to surprise me after having seen it many times before.
To start there’s a certain kind of beauty with this film. Not solely because of who and what it’s about, but because of how Clooney decided to present this film. This film was released in black and white, which itself is a rarity in modern films, but in this case, like with a few other that have been released since in this way, it pays off. This approach has somehow made the film even better. I’m not completely sold on the why yet, but I feel it somehow brings a more intimate feel to it. Maybe a more emotional feel. It’s also a great way for this film to call back to the time period on television and film, where things were still shot in black and white.
Moving beyond that, into what makes this the overall effective and fun film, are the actors, their performances and their characters. It’s a character driven film, which is where the brilliance, in part, lies. The whole film is focused on the people working at CBS at this time, and to some extent their lives. How they’re all affected by the current era and its political climate. Each character is instantly likable, and from a work standpoint, you can see their commitment to the work they’re doing. Through this as well, you get a good sense of who they are, and this is what pulls you in emotionally. The ability to care for these characters comes quickly and naturally because this entire story is such an emotionally captivating one.
Within this we get the behind the scenes action of a newsroom! That alone is exciting! But what makes it more so, at least for me, is how fascinating it all is. I had no trouble at all getting into this story and the time period, which is good given how the story progresses. Mind you, and obviously, I’m much too young to have experienced this or to even come close to truly understanding what this time was like. All I know is what I’ve learned through various college courses and additional research I’ve done. Which is another thing I credit to this film, and why I love it so, it doesn’t treat you like an idiot. Yes it just assumes you know the general time period of this film, but it also explains everything in an easy enough way. You really should have no trouble following, and if you do, then there’s always Google. We all have access to Google.
This film picks up pretty quickly, and throws you straight into the action of the CBS newsroom. I love that there’s so much already going on that you kind of have to walk briskly just to keep up, but that turns out not to be too difficult. Eventually, after meeting all the characters in pretty organic ways, we get to the heart of what they’ll be covering. Senator McCarthy and the communist scare that was running rampant throughout the country at this time. Whether or not the fear was truly warranted, or just blown out of proportion, this news team knew that a lot of what was being sold was crap. So they started following events and calling crap when the logic behind them seemed flawed.
This is where the Milo Radulovich story comes into play, as it’s the first story that Murrow and company covered that really put them in McCarthy’s line of sight. Radulovich had been discharged from the Air Force because people believed his family members were communist sympathizers. When the final story goes to air, using some archival footage, the audience is treated to a most fascinating story. It’s one that points out the flaws in the accusations and makes people think about the truth of the matter. I for one couldn’t stop watching it unfold.
This, however, wasn’t due to the fact that it was written spectacularly, which isn’t to fully discredit Clooney or Heslov. No, it’s because the writers decided to use archival footage of McCarthy and various senate hearings during this time. Other archival footage was used too. As was actual dialogue from Murrow’s broadcasts. Within this there’s a level of brilliance to be had. You don’t have to imagine being afraid of McCarthy, who was more or less a villain. You just had to watch and listen to his own words to be transported back to the ‘50s, and what that time must’ve felt like, but certainly looked like.
Sadly, there’s some push back, which was expected, but it’s particularly difficult when Langella’s William Paley has to get involved. He’s the head of CBS. He’s accepting at first, of what Murrow and Clooney’s Friendly are doing, but that doesn’t last, as we’ll see.
As we go along on this journey of courageous and honest reporting, the team decides to take McCarthy head on. On March 9, 1954, they did just that, with one of several memorable examinations of McCarthy. It certainly was another exciting moment to behold, as it didn’t just amp you up, but as I’ve since discovered, was shot in a similar manner to that of the real broadcast. In fact this film kept up that general approach and it certainly lends itself well to authenticity. How else could you get so invested in something that happened so long ago?
On April 6, 1954, McCarthy goes on the program to counter Murrow. What really transpires, as Murrow himself later points out, is an all out attack against Murrow. Instead of refuting any of the claims made by Murrow on the show, McCarthy just makes accusations. It’s interesting as this tactic is still used today by some politicians or people who claim they aren’t, yet are running for a government office. Again, it’s another instance that will just get under your skin. So many people were cowering because of one man, whom, when you think about it, really made little sense and could seldom back up his claims. Thank god for people like Murrow, friendly and the other’s who worked at CBS during this time.
After major damage is done by Murrow and company, and the many people before them reporting on this difficult time, the senate decides to investigate McCarthy. The witch hunt is beginning to end. And while this, to any other person, seems like it would be a good thing, it’s not without consequence of a different sort. Corporate pressures more or less saw to the end of Murrow’s show “See It Now”. As Murrow and Friendly are shown, they knew that doing these stories was going to be risky. Their sponsor had a vested interest in them not doing these stories and going after McCarthy, but they did so anyway. Now, it was time for them to pay. “See It Now” was relocated to Sunday afternoons and was reduced not only in time, but in how many episodes it would run. A death note if ever there was one.
Which is how we have a film that’s bookended with a speech. Clooney and Heslov decide to have this film begin with a speech. The speech Murrow is delivering is a keynote address at the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) in 1958, which is many years after the events depicted in the bulk of this nicely packaged short film. It truly is a brilliant way of beginning and ending this film, even though it’s not really the whole of Murrow’s actual speech, but merely a few paragraphs well placed and excellently delivered. It’s also brilliant as it serves two purposes. It shows us plainly what Murrow, by this time, thought about the state of television and radio, particularly as it related to media and journalism. The state of journalism had shifted in a few short years that he’s dismayed. The second purpose, is one that I find explains why Clooney and Heslov chose to approach this film in a certain manner. It’s to contrast where Murow was at his highest point in journalism, and where he and the profession had gone, as well as where it could go. Then, you look to present day, especially as it’s been over 10 years since the film came out, and you may be wondering if what he said hadn’t come to pass.
Has television, as Murrow said in real life and in the film, become just “wires and lights in a box”?
There’s an incredible emotional component. There’s the natural emotion you’d expect, like, humor and laughter, and general drama, brought on by the amazing characters and performances from the actors, but during this film you actually get a sense of dread. Fear. I may not be able to get the full effect that people at this time felt, but for me, as a viewer, it was surprising the amount of fear I did feel. It was strong and it was even more effective as you could clearly see it play out on the various characters faces. There was also shock, or at least surprise. I was surprised by what unfolded, but I guess that’s just a slight upside as I was not fully versed in what happened during this time. For a film to achieve the type of emotional responses it did, truly makes it a standout in my book.
However, with all stories of heroism, it seems, there must be some kind of consequence. If you’ve done any kind of research or learned about this in some kind of class or talked with anyone about this time period, particularly your parents, then you probably know some of what occurred because of these McCarthy inquiries. People’s lives were ruined, and some, so much so, that they decided to take their own lives. Wise’s character, who I feel really embodies that of the general public, or at least those that disagreed with McCarthy and admired people like Murrow who stood up for what’s right, commits suicide. His name, like a lot of people’s, had been dragged through the mud enough and it became too much. A heavy consequence of the McCarthy era. And in a film that already had enough drama, and emotional drama stemming from taking on McCarthy in the name of public interest, this really allowed for everything else to hit home. I certainly wasn’t expecting this the first time I saw this, and even now it still surprises me a little.
With so much emotion coming from this film, and because of the time this film takes place, it made me wonder, what did I think while watching this? How did I respond? I did indeed feel something. This is another film where I’m surprised by how I responded. It’s one thing to feel something overall, as that’s what film’s should strive to do, move you. It’s another when it’s because of how deeply invested you get in this film. That’s what happened with this film. Like “Spotlight” and “Truth”, which seem to be my go to films for comparisons, I was learning things as well as simply being entertained. It’s this that had me so much more emotionally involved. I was surprised, saddened, and mad at different points. The whole film really does present one big history lesson, as well as how to tell an interesting story on film.
While journalism has changed dramatically in the 51 years since Murrow’s death, and 60 years since the events depicted in this film, the main principle of telling the truth and holding those in power accountable remains. Hell, holding anyone accountable. At times it truly seems like the most difficult aspect of journalism to do, but every now and then, mainly in big national stories, we get courageous journalists that seek out answers to complicated questions and report the truth to those who deserve to know. Journalism and journalists may be distrusted by a wide range of people, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t those out there truly trying to uphold this high standard of what once was a truly noble profession. Hopefully one day journalism can return to what it once was, and important stories won’t be neglected for so long if not outright missed.
Suspenseful trailer:
...Everything in Between 