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October 30, 2005
Good Night, and Good Luck
My first foray into seeing A Really Important Movie Likely to Be Part of Awards Mania came this evening. First, when did movie tickets go to $9.50? Sigh. I'm trying to stay away from the theater for many reasons - the obnoxious talkers, the overpriced junk food, and the crazy ticket prices. But there are still other movies I want to see Now - Capote and North Country and maybe one of the lighter movies (In Her Shoes or Shopgirl)....
So there was plenty I knew about Good Night, and Good Luck before seeing it: its shot in black and white, Clooney directed and co-starred, and McCarthy is played by himself via footage from the time. I didn't realize that it was completely about news room politics. For a movie about the creation of a volatile program during a difficult period, it sure as hell was slow. Yes, it was an artistic decision. But seriously, the long fade outs and the steady monologues just weren't that interesting. Someone behind me asked her companion if she had learned anything from the movie and the second woman replied in the negative. Personally, it reminded me of all the problems I already know about between the editorial and business side of media companies. It also reminds folks of the impetus of true journalism to report the truth, not necessarily giving equal time to "both sides" of a situation. As Roger Ebert pointed out, very few journalists heed that call to duty nowadays. I was also reminded of when I first learned about McCarthyism, in AP US History in 11th grade. I remember watching some of the same footage used in the film, along with bits from the Murrow show that exposed McCarthy. I remember thinking that the documentary I watched in high school was more riveting, but maybe because it was my first exposure to the story.
I don't understand why the film is so myopic. Its difficult to understand Murrow's impact without seeing any public reaction shots. How did Joe and Jill America respond to the broadcasts? How many Americans were watching the programs? What else was on at the same time? I thought the film lacked these vital aspects of the story. I was fine with it focusing on the process of creating media, but I have to say that Control Room was far more gripping and made watching the process of relating the news much more interesting. Perhaps it seems like an unfair comparison - a dramatization of the 50s with a doc about the Iraq War. But since Clooney's primary reason for making the movie was to Remind Us What We've Been Giving Up For This War On Terrorism, I think it is a legitimate comparison.
Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing the film again (on video) to determine whether or not I've been unfair in my criticism due to extraneous circumstances.
Posted by cj at October 30, 2005 12:48 AM
Comments
I really want to see this movie, also Capote. The only thing I've seen recently is Serenity, which I really loved. (yeah it's a popcorn movie, so sue me!) Thanks for the review.
Posted by: Birdie at October 30, 2005 12:17 PM