... it telescopes -- with no loss of accuracy -- Murrow's last few fifties hurrahs as the hardest diamond in Bill Paley's 'Tiffany network.'
Good Night. And, Good Luck (2005)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:40
Fresh:38
Rotten:2
Average Rating:8.2/10
Consensus: This is a passionate and concise civics lesson from the past, arriving with much political and cultural relevance to today.
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Oct 7, 2005 Limited
Box Office: $31,501,218
Synopsis: With GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, George Clooney delivers a riveting account of a crucial chapter in 20th-century American history and, in the process, firmly establishes himself as a major force... With GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, George Clooney delivers a riveting account of a crucial chapter in 20th-century American history and, in the process, firmly establishes himself as a major force behind the camera as well. The crisply paced, tautly scripted docudrama recounts the events of the mid-1950s leading up to acclaimed CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow's (David Strathairn) decision to stand up against fiery Senator Joseph McCarthy, who was out to rid the country of communism. McCarthy's seemingly reckless behavior, in which he condemned individuals without giving them a fair trial, angered Murrow and his producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) into action. The resulting few episodes of Murrow's show, SEE IT NOW, found Murrow on a personal, patriotic crusade to challenge McCarthy and rid America of his callous persecution. Set almost entirely inside the smoke-filled, pressurized newsrooms at CBS, Clooney's assured picture moves at a breakneck pace. Cinematographer Robert Elswit miraculously recreates the black-and-white look of that era, giving the film an added air of legitimacy. And while Clooney and co-screenwriter/producer Grant Heslov wisely chose to use stock footage of McCarthy instead of finding an actor to fill his shoes, they couldn't have found a better Murrow than Strathairn, who delivers his lines with heroic conviction. Clooney's stellar ensemble cast also includes Ray Wise, Patricia Clarkson, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Daniels, and Frank Langella. [More]
Starring: David Strathairn, Robert Downey, Patricia Clarkson, Rose Abdoo
Starring: David Strathairn, Robert Downey, Patricia Clarkson, Rose Abdoo, Alex Borstein, Robert John Burke, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, Tate Donovan, Tom McCarthy, George Clooney
Director: George Clooney
Director: George Clooney
Screenwriter: George Clooney, Grant Heslov
Producer: Grant Heslov
Studio: Warner Independent
Get This Movie
Reviews for Good Night. And, Good Luck
Rarely moving a facial muscle except to exhale smoke and brimstone, Strathairn wonderfully recaptures Murrow's deadpan delivery style.
It's an interesting way to represent the past, though the use of space, actors, and archival footage seems more theatrical than cinematic.
Clooney continues to improve as both a writer and director, showing huge advancement from his underwhelming 2002 helming debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
Good Night, and Good Luck may be simplified history, but it's almost consistently well-crafted.
Clooney's message is clear: Character assassination is wrong, McCarthy was a bully and a liar, and we must be vigilant when the emperor has no clothes and wraps himself in the flag.
Mr. Strathairn does capture much of Murrow's formal manner, particularly the measured cadences of his sentences.
Clooney makes an elegant argument that something of vital interest is still at stake in this story. It would take a stubborn soul to disagree.
Good Night, and Good Luck stands, tall, solid, impressive and expressive joining not only the best films about journalism, but also those about real Americans.
The sad conclusion of Good Night is that while we have made no more room for Murrows in this world, the potential for McCarthys lingers. In which case, good luck indeed.
As an actor, George Clooney is often compared with vintage stars like Cary Grant, but with his latest work he aligns himself with history's great directors.
Do you respect the corporate line or do you cross it? Clooney, who in his life wears the hats both of the entertainer and the 'actorvist,' gives us an intelligent, electric film that knows this question is as timely now as it was for Murrow.
I'm betting David Strathairn, who plays Murrow with a sense of wry self-awareness, will be nominated for an Academy Award.
Mr. Clooney doesn't sacrifice story and theme for sermonizing, which is perhaps Good Night's most impressive feat.
Clooney, who gained weight to play Murrow's producer, Fred Friendly, has made a solid film and his sense of humor remains intact.
We're not sure if Strathairn is playing Murrow or channeling him. Either way, we're impressed.
Part docu-drama, part thriller, and part cautionary tale, the movie offers something to everyone who craves more than escapism from the cinema.
I found it to be one of most intelligent and insightful movies ever made about the television news business and about the profoundly un-American practice of labeling dissenters as traitors.
Latest News for Good Night. And, Good Luck
April 03, 2008:
Critics Consensus: Leatherheads Has its Ups and Downs; Nim's Island is Stranded; Guess The Ruins' Tomatometer!
This week at the movies, we've got pigskin pratfalls (Leatherheads, starring George Clooney and Renée Zellweger), isle imagination (Nim's Island, starring Jodie Foster and... More...
April 02, 2008:
George Clooney on Combining Football and Screwball in Leatherheads
After nabbing Oscar notice for recent dramas, it's about time George Clooney lightened up. More with America's favorite man-crush on his 1920s screwball football comedy,... More...
October 05, 2006:
Box Office Guru Preview: "Departed" Arrives with a Bang
Movie studios are offering something for every age group over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Mature adults will go undercover with Martin Scorsese's cop thriller "The... More...
March 06, 2006:
Indie Spirit Awards Distributed
Lost in the shadow of the weekend's Oscar coverage was the annual Independent Spirit Awards presentation, which is where you'll find ... a lot of accolades similar to the... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Good Night. And, Good Luck at Rotten Tomatoes
- Good Night. And, Good Luck at IGN
- Good Night. And, Good Luck at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic


