Good Night and Good Luck

“Good Night and Good Luck” was a stunning and tasteful look into the CBS broadcast television in the midst of the McCarthy era. Edward Murrow was our heroic protagonist, whose striking sense of moral integrity propelled him forward into his broadcasts. David Strathairn, who played the newsman, shared remarkably similar characteristics to the real life Murrow, and was flawless in his portrayal. He spoke in that fast, precise way that people in the late 50s and early 60s spoke like- but it was Murrow’s words that was the most compelling part of the movie. He spoke with so much honor, and encouraged the American people to stay adamant and educated when it came to what they were hearing in the media. Despite the words being from decades prior, they still ring true today. Senator McCarthy made false accusations left and right and stated them as facts- which lead the United States into a frenzy and mistruth. Sounds familiar to what happened since Donald Trump entered the political sphere of influence- a frenzy of mistruth and confusion. I can’t help but wonder how Murrow would have acted if Donald Trump was in office the same time he was the number one newsman in the U.S. They probably would have gone head to head just as Murrow and McCarthy had- with McCarthy spewing lies about Murrow’s false “commie” past. I can imagine Trump’s ugly orange face scrunched up in disgust, as Murrow keeps his cool and his information factual.

I think the artistic decision to make the movie black and white was a really good move on George Clooney’s part. It carried a seriousness throughout- as if the whole movie was a CBS broadcast from the 50s. I also thought the placement of Murrow’s speech at the Radio Television News Directors Association was really well thought-out. It was at the beginning of the movie, amongst a smooth, jazz-filled dinner scene. His speech out of context left the audience wanting more- and so the movie launched. We see the story play out, and it comes full circle to Murrow and that same speech. He demanded the American people to not be complacent- a sentiment that once again, rings true today.