Good Night, And Good Luck

NewMexiKen saw Good Night, And Good Luck this evening. One of the five films nominated for best picture, the story centers around newscaster Edward R. Murrow’s conflict with Senator Joe McCarthy in 1953-1954.

While a fine film with excellent acting — David Strathairn is just remarkable as Murrow — the film falls short. The characters are never really developed; the story is thin. Too much it seems is left to our knowledge of the actual events and historical context. For example, while we know from the beginning that Murrow and his crew dislike McCarthy — and well that they should — we never really see the conflict develop. In fact, the only real tension in the film is the conflict that develops between Murrow and CBS chairman William Paley (played admirably by Frank Langella). That’s not enough.

While genuine, and thankfully not an Oliver Stone historical travesty, Good Night, And Good Luck lacks the dramatic power to be best picture.