Beautifully shot in a mood-enducing black and white, Good Night, and Good Luck reflects on American radio journalist Edward R Murrow’s stand against Senator McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts in the early 1950s.
Contained almost exclusively within the studios of the radio station, Murrow (David Strathairn – Nomadland, The Whistleblower) voices concern of McCarthy’s unconstitutional tactics both on air and within the production team meetings, headed by Fred Friendly (George Clooney – Money Monster, Syriana).
A claustrophobic anxiety pervades this tight-knit elegant feature both written (with Grant Heslov) and directed by Clooney that is simultaneously low-key and expansive. Archival television footage and a superb performed-live jazz vocal score (Dianne Reeves) adds to the mood.
Nominated for 6 Oscars in 2006 – best film, director, actor, original screenplay, cinematography (Robert Elswit – There Will Be Blood, Nightcrawler), art direction.
Rating: 81%
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