Good Night, And Good Luck.

Those are Words with a capital W. Just as true today as when they were spoken 50 years ago. Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) was quite possibly the most important man to ever sit behind a news desk. (Figuratively speaking, of course, He didn’t seem to actually have a desk according to this movie.) He was among the first real “Speakers Of Truth”� on television and, had he lived to see what television news has become, he would be appalled.

You see, Edward R. Murrow almost single-handedly took down a corrupt senator named Joseph McCarthy. Many of you will remember Mr. McCarthy from The Crucible, but rest assured. He was a real man. And that is unfortunate for all involved. He created what has become one of many dark spots in American history. He invented the Red Scare and started the Witch Hunts of the late 40s and early 50s that ruined lives and careers for no particular reason. Anyone that ol’ Joe had a beef with (including Murrow) he accused of being a Communist or a sympathizer. He would make shit up just to put people into the witness chair. And, if they named names of other supposed Communists (as Elia Kazan did), they were allowed to go on their way. If they didn’t, they could face jail time. Even if they didn’t go to jail, they’re lives were ruined. He was particularly hard on Hollywood.

Murrow fought against the head of CBS, William Paley (Frank Langella), who just wanted to appease the sponsors. Paley never really said “No, you can’t do this story,”� but he definitely warned against it.

His entire crew was with him whether they had unofficial ties to Communism or not. Murrow’s producer, Fred Friendly (director/writer, George Clooney), was his biggest ally and would do anything for Murrow’s crusade. Even if it meant fighting the top brass tooth and nail.

But the real battle here is, of course, between America and her aggressors, whether they be foreign or domestic. And McCarthy was definitely an aggressor. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to bring someone down and, once Murrow started to go up against him, America started to realize it.

This is quite possibly the most important movie I’ve seen all year. And it is definitely one of the best. Clooney, whose father was a crusading newsman himself, has crafted a gripping version of the story that takes place entirely inside the newsroom. All of the footage of McCarthy is culled from actual film of the man himself. And it is all shown on televisions in the studio. And the stark black and white film itself looks like old news footage, almost seeming to show age.

The performances are just as impressive as Clooney’s vision. Everyone is great, including the stellar supporting cast (Robert Downey, Jr., Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson, Ray Wise, etc.). But Strathairn is absolutely amazing. He’s a hard man who is dying inside because of what he is forced to do to get his story on the air. (Watch his expression when he finishes his interview with Liberace.)

And he isn’t only dying because of that. In 1965, only a little over 10 years after this film takes place, Murrow died of lung cancer. And it’s no wonder. He’s got a damn cancer stick in his hand throughout the entire movie! I haven’t seen this much smoking on screen since Bogey and Bacall stopped making movies together. Hell, there was even a guy running with one in his mouth! But it’s a product of the time it’s set in. And it would have been totally weird to do a movie about Edward R. Murrow and not include his omni-present cigarette.

So, why would Clooney choose this moment to make this movie? I guess that’s a pretty simple question. Every American should see this movie and draw their own conclusions. So much of what McCarthy said is being said again. So much of what Murrow said is being said by the current administration’s opposition. Here’s the problem: we don’t have a Murrow of our own. Today’s media is being controlled so well by either the government or their lackeys (Rupert Murdoch, I’m looking at you) that we don’t get the real news from anyone on television. We have to go to the internet for it. Murrow believed that television could be used to teach and learn, but only as long as people wanted to do those things. Well, it appears that a majority of the people aren’t willing to do either. And that’s a sad state of affairs.

Edward R. Murrow is my new hero. He looked in the face of a corrupt government and brought a junior senator from Wisconsin to his knees. If only we had someone on television who was courageous enough to do the same now.

I’ll leave you with the words of Murrow himself. These are the actual last words of the speech that bookends the movie:

“There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful. Stonewall Jackson, who knew something about the use of weapons, is reported to have said, ‘When war comes, you must draw the sword and throw away the scabbard.’ The trouble with television is that it is rusting in the scabbard during a battle for survival.”

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go take up smoking.