Good Night, and Good Luck Blu-ray delivers stunning video and solid audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release
"Good Night, And, Good Luck." takes place during the early days of broadcast journalism in 1950's America. It chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public, Murrow, and his dedicated staff - headed by his producer Fred Friendly and Joe Wershba in the CBS newsroom - defy corporate and sponsorship pressures to examine the lies and scaremongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist 'witch-hunts'. A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. In this climate of fear and reprisal, the CBS crew carries on and their tenacity will prove historic and monumental.
Radio's great, but it's out of date. TV is the thing this year!
By the early 1950s, television was finally coming into its own as an important, respected, and
popular medium not only to entertain, but to inform. Still in its earlier stages of development,
television had its work cut out for it. Radio, though relatively new itself (the first commercial
radio broadcast emanated from the Pittsburgh, PA based KDKA on November 2, 1920), had
gained immense popularity, seeing America through a depression and a World War, all the while
bringing live sporting events and situational comedies into the homes of millions of Americans.
By the Eisenhower era, radio had enjoyed a 30-plus year history as a proven medium. Almost
every
home with clear reception had a radio, including home-made "crystal" sets, and Americans
generally sat "glued" to the radio, hanging on every word and note that emanated from the box,
much like many Americans have hung onto every word coming from televisions since the
Vietnam conflict.
Television had the same goals as radio, but was obviously a more costly medium for Americans to
adopt over their beloved radios. I can't help but to think of the line from Back to the
Future when Marty McFly, in 1955, says that his family has two television sets. "Wow, you
must
be rich!" is the response from Milton. His mother replies, "Oh, honey, he's teasing you. Nobody
has two television sets." Anecdotal evidence to be sure, the quote is nevertheless representative
of the typical response to television sets in early 1950s America. It was a luxury item, one
worthy
of a place in the home should one be able to afford to make it a part of their lives. Despite the
cost, by 1955 some 36 million sets were in homes, and America's love
affair with television was in full swing. It was only a year earlier, in 1954, with the threat of
Communism and the Cold War looming over America, that television would begin to play an
influential role in the shaping
of
American policy both at home and abroad, a role it still enjoys today, though it is today waning in
the
face of competition from another relatively new and powerful medium, the Internet.
Edward R. Murrow lashes out against Senator Joseph McCarthy.
"Good Night, and Good Luck" is the sign-off phrase of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow
(David
Strathairn, We Are
Marshall). Murrow is an employee of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and
host
of
the popular television program See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly (George Clooney,
Ocean's Thirteen).
As the film opens, Murrow is speaking to a crowd assembled in his honor in October 1958. He
warns of the danger of losing television as a medium of distributing information to the masses
and allowing it to be controlled by a select few, who instead use it simply as an "idiot box" (my
words, not his), that serves only to "distract, delude,
amuse, and insulate us" from the ugliness that is reality in the world. Here, he is foreshadowing
for the movie's audiences and recapping for his "live" audience his release by CBS following his
push to discredit Junior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy. On his show, Murrow
would show what he believed
to be the "unpleasant [and] disturbing information" that television big-wigs wanted kept from the
American public.
Though also a tabloid journalist of sorts, interviewing and discussing the likes of Liberace on his
other television program, Person to Person, Murrow wants to begin editorializing the real
news of the day. He never has before, but the story of disgraced Air Force Lieutenant Milo
Radulovich has led Murrow to believe that his story is the one he must stand up against in the
harsh public light and fight for. Radulovich has been discharged from the Air Force under the
pretense of being a risk to security. The evidence against the Lieutenant: his father has
subscribed to a Serbian newsletter. Sig Mickelson (Jeff Daniels, The Lookout), a CBS
executive, objects, but Murrow and Friendly proceed. The piece airs, featuring reporting by Joe
Wershba (Robert Downey, Jr., Gothika) and is a
complete success. McCarthy, however, labels Murrow as a Communist, and thus begins a
tit-for-tat series of exchanges between the broadcaster and Senator. Eventually, Murrow
emerges seemingly victorious, but CBS boss Bill Paley (Frank Langella, Superman Returns)
moves Murrow's show to a Sunday afternoon time slot, and for only five more episodes, saying
that "people want to enjoy themselves...they don't want a civics lesson," and Murrow's fears,
which he addressed at the start of the picture, are,
for the moment, seemingly realized due in part to his own actions.
There is a lot to like about Good Night, and Good Luck. For example, this is a very
"busy" film. People
constantly talk over one another, characters cannot be heard over the din of the newsroom, and
the film therefore has a very lifelike, realistic feel about it. The only time the pace slows down is
when Murrow is broadcasting live on television, and these are the most tense moments in the
picture. Acting is brilliant throughout this picture. As the cover art for this Blu-ray disc so boldly
states, Good Night, and Good Luck garnered six Academy Award nominations, including a
best actor nod for David Strathairn who turns in a memorable and brilliant performance as
Murrow. His mannerisms closely resemble those of the real broadcaster and he's utterly
believable as the controversial 1950s newsman. Clooney, Downey, Jr., and Langella also shine.
The black and white photography is stunning, as is the art direction (which itself received an
Oscar nomination). This is an important film. Director George Clooney has openly stated that
the driving force behind the film are some parallels he sees happening today with the McCarthy
era, and this film is also relevant as the same battle waged between radio and television then is
once again being fought today, this time between television and the Internet. This is a film well
worth seeing, and with a PG rating it's suitable and recommended viewing for all, though it will
undoubtedly go over the heads of younger audiences.
This 1080p, 1.85:1 black and white image is pristine. It's been a while since I enjoyed a black and
white film, and I'd forgotten just what a beautiful thing to behold a well done colorless film is. It
captures the feel of the period all too well. Detail is strikingly high throughout. There is nary a
hiccup to be seen. This is a sharp, lifelike image. The clarity of the details is something else. For
example, every bead of sweat on Murrow's face as he broadcasts under the hot studio lights looks
amazingly real. Even the old stock footage of Senator McCarthy and Annie Lee Moss look to be in
remarkably good shape given their age. A fine transfer all around, and the first black and white
picture I have seen in high definition, is a wonder to behold. I yearn for more black and white
movies in high definition on Blu-ray after seeing this. Kudos.
As an almost completely dialogue driven film, it comes as no surprise that this is a front heavy
soundtrack. Action takes place completely indoors, and there is little to no ambience to be heard
throughout the film. Warner has chosen to only include a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and frankly
it doesn't hurt a movie such as Good Night, and Good Luck. With little opportunity for the
soundtrack to wander away from the center channel, this at times sounds like a mono track, but
that's fine. Dialogue is key, and it sounds great. David Strathairn's voice sounds so lifelike that you
are often drawn into the studio with him and Fred Friendly. It's hard to tell that this is a soundtrack
and not real life during his monologues. I really can't fault this track for being what it is. A
soundtrack doesn't need whizzing bullets, heavy bass, and active surrounds to be a good, pleasing
listen. Good Night, and Good Luck sounds just fine.
Unfortunately, supplements are scare on this release. First up is a commentary track featuring
actor/director George
Clooney and producer Grant Heslov. The two have been friends since 1982 and don't delve very
deep into their inspirations and motivations for making this film. Clooney mentions his father
being an anchorman and Murrow being his hero, but we don't hear nearly enough of this tale.
We get some nuts-and-bolts here and there, not to mention some dead air as the duo watches
the movie rather than discusses it, and for the most part this track is not worth a listen,
unfortunately.
A Good Night, and Good Luck Companion Piece (480p, 15:05), featuring interviews and
some behind-the-scenes footage regarding the historical representations in the film, is included.
Finally, a 480p trailer for Good Night, and Good Luck, edited to obviously parallel today's
political climate, wraps up this weak offering of supplements. I encountered some difficulty
getting any
of the supplements to play on my Playstation 3, and I had to resort to accessing the commentary
and the features by pressing the "audio" and "Go to" keys on my remote (audio track 2 is the
commentary, title 5 is the trailer and
title 6 is the companion piece)
Whatever your current political affiliation or your stance on the tactics of both McCarthy and
Murrow, this is a brilliant, well made film that is well worth watching. Good Night, and Good
Luck showcases some of the
finest acting performances in recent memory and represents
filmmaking at its finest. It's a take on one
of the most tumultuous eras in American history and the result is fine entertainment that will leave
you thinking long after the end of the film. The image
quality on this disc is brilliant and the audio is sufficient. Extras are severely lacking, however.
Recommended for those interested in beautiful black and white photography or those seeking an
intellectually stimulating motion picture.
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