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Good Night, and Good Luck (Widescreen Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: George Clooney
Actors: David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Alex Borstein
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $0.97
You Save: $19.01 (95%)
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Rating:  310 reviews
Sales Rank: 4259
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.4
MPN: WARD73678D
UPC: 012569736788
EAN: 0012569736788
ASIN: B000E1NXJ0
Theatrical Release Date: October 14, 2005
Release Date: March 14, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: The dvd has some light scratches in it but it still plays great. Some cover wear. Ships within 24 hours.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Without force-feeding its timely message, Good Night, and Good Luck illuminates history to enlighten our present, when the need for a free and independent press is more important than ever. In 90 breathtaking minutes of efficient and intricate storytelling, writer-director George Clooney and cowriter Grant Heslov pay honorable tribute to the journalistic integrity of legendary CBS newscaster Edward R. Murrow, who confronted the virulent and overzealous anti-Communist witch-hunting of Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1953-54, and emerged as a triumphant truth-seeker against the abuses of corporate and governmental power. As played by David Strathairn, Murrow is a dogged realist, keenly aware of the smear tactics that will be employed against him; Clooney provides crucial backup as Murrow's "See It Now" producer and closest confidante Fred Friendly, forming a fierce but not entirely fearless triumvirate of broadcasting bravery with CBS chief William Paley (Frank Langella), who anxiously champions Murrow's cause under constant threat of reprisals. While using crisp black-and-white cinematography (by Robert Elswit) to vividly recreate the electrifying atmosphere of the CBS newsroom and the early years of television, Clooney (son of long-time Cincinnati newsman Nick Clooney) proves his directorial skill by juggling big themes and an esteemed ensemble cast, never stooping to simplification of ethically complex material. Good Night, and Good Luck is an instant classic, destined for all the accolades it so richly deserves. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
In the early 1950s the threat of communism created an air of paranoia in the u.S. & exploiting those fears was senator joseph mccarthy. However cbs reporter edward r murrow & his producer fred friendly decided to take a stand & challenge mccarthy & expose him for the fear monger he was. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: George Clooney Robert Downey Jr Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Pg
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| Customer Reviews: Read 305 more reviews...
 sophisticated, flawless and riveting January 5, 2009
Matthew G. Sherwin
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Good Night, and Good Luck tells us the gripping true story of how famed television journalist Edward R. Murrow (played so well by David Strathairn) dared to speak against the over-zealous and ferocious anti-Communist Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy (seen here in black and white newsreel clips to make this film feel all the more real). The cinematography is excellent and David Strathairn does a superlative job of portraying the nervous yet very brave Murrow; and the plot moves along at a very good pace. Look also for a strong performance by Ray Wise as Don Hollenbeck; and Frank Langella is completely convincing as CBS top man Bill Paley.
When the action starts, we see a banquet to honor Edward R. Murrow in 1958; and when Murrow begins to speak the story begins in flashback form. We see the tensions of a bustling, mightily busy newsroom at CBS; and it's not long before we see Edward Murrow and his "partner" Fred Friendly (George Clooney). Fred produces Murrow's TV shows; and Murrow often confides in Fred as well. Murrow begins to be appalled at the actions of Senator McCarthy and wants to expose him as a master of manipulation and terror who wants to expose "Communists" even if the person never was a Communist.
It isn't easy. You probably know how the story goes and what the ending will be; but that doesn't keep you from being rivted to your seat in anticipation of the next twist and turn in the story. Eventually McCarthy comes on Murrow's show to offer his rebuttal--but the outcome of that is clear especially in hindsight.
The film is shot in black and white which heightens its artistic qualities; the choice of black and white also highlights the darkness of McCarthy's soul and the nervous tension and paranoia McCarthyism caused. Black and white was a brilliant choice for this picture. The close-ups of David Strathairn as Edward R. Murrow do a marvelous job of showing just how much anxiety Murrow had--but Murrow goes through with it all anyway because he believed in what he was doing and he believed that he was right. Fortunately, Murrow had his producer/friend Fred Friendly on his side; although there are some unpleasant encounters with Bill Paley who must manage profitability.
Look also for the great Dianne Reeves to sing a number of stellar ballads throughout this movie. The sound track should be available on CD if you're interested. In addition, the DVD comes with a "companion piece" which is essentially a short "making of" featurette; and we get an optional running commentary by Director/Writer George Clooney and Co-Writer/Producer Grant Heslov as well. Excellent!
I highly recommend this film for fans of the actors in this movie; and students of 20th century American history will find this to be a fascinating film. McCarthyism was a dark time in our nation's history; and this film helps us to remember that it must never be forgotten.
3.5 stars out of 4 December 21, 2008
One-Line Film Reviews (Ann Arbor)
The Bottom Line:
Quickly forgotten by just about everyone after it was shut out of the 2006 Oscars, GNaGL is a worthy (if brief) look into one of television's most interesting figures and what was arguably his finest hour.
 Nice but not that well December 13, 2008
Miguel Vaca (Bogota D.C., Colombia)
After the Oscar Award evenning. We can absolutely trust this movie is going to be a master piece of script, performance and cinematography.
Well i do not deny the force of this factors, it is a great movie indeed. And Clooney did a splendid work on it. His fellow friend Soderberg can be proud of the legacy he remained on him but the movie is boring.
It is not about the black and white technique, is not about the dense dialogs, is not about the topic of the plot, is just the rhythm and development of the story is too much for the one hundred and peek minutes of the movie.
Great performances, i personaly love Clarkson, Downey Jr, Clooney and Strathairn. Must see it but i am still not convinced further than an oustanding movie.
 Distorted history December 9, 2008
Michael W. Perry (Seattle, WA United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
We all know that what Senator Joe McCarthy said in the 1950s about the communist threat facing America was filled with lies. But how many of us also know that much of what today's news and entertainment media says about the McCarthy Era is equally flawed? McCarthy died discredited in 1957, and his lies fortunately died with him. But the distortions that today's news media use to conceal their own misdeeds during that era remain with us. This film is an illustration of that. It's not only propaganda, it's poorly done and implausible propaganda.
The clue lies in this film's portrayal of McCarthy, a portrayal that has hardened into dogma among most professional journalists. Senator McCarthy, the film tells us, was such an immensely powerful figure that Edward R. Murrow, a journalist at CBS-TV, displayed great courage in talking him on in 1953.
Does that make sense? In 1953, McCarthy was the junior senator from Wisconsin and had been in that office for only six years. It's not a position that carries with it much political power. Today, most Americans don't even know who holds that office and certainly wouldn't hesitate to criticize someone with so little power. In contrast, Murrow had been an internationally known and well-respected reporter since May of 1938, when he covered the German annexation of Austria for CBS radio. The American public had been hearing him for fifteen years and millions tuned into his TV show, "See It Now." Look at the numbers. McCarthy had been nationally known only since his Wheeling, West Virginia speech in February of 1950, a mere three years earlier. Three years or fifteen--who really had the most influence and power?
Of course, that doesn't mean that McCarthy wasn't powerful or that no one need fear to tangle with him. Even President Eisenhower, who loathed McCarthy, was forced to bide his time, waiting for the senator to self-destruct. But McCarthy's power did not rest in who he was. It rested on what the national press had made out of him. That's the key to understanding why the media in this country has a vested interest in distorting the history of that era. It was they who had turned a politician with no particular talent and a propensity to lie into someone millions of Americans saw as a brave and honest opponent of communist infiltration into American life.
If you want a historical parallel, think of former Vice-President Albert Gore and the millions who believe what he says about global warning. They eagerly follow his hints of dark conspiracies by oil companies. They want dissenting voices silenced, and our lives forcibly reorganized to remove what they think is a great danger. Former vice-presidents aren't that powerful. It's the media that gives Gore a platform from which to speak and rarely challenges what he says. The real problem isn't the fear-monger. It's a hysteria-prone press lacking in judgment.
Substitute a communist conspiracy for one by oil companies and you have the McCarthy Era. It was created by the press and not McCarthy. That's what this film fails to point out. Murrow had to take a bold stand against McCarthy because for three years many hundred of reporters and news outlets had repeated what McCarthy said without critically examining it. Over and over, McCarthy made claims that did not stand up to close scrutiny. The closest this film comes to admitting that is in its oft-repeated statement that reporting the news should mean more than reporting what each side in a controversy was saying.
I'll close with a brief look at the film as a film. It's the fifties, so be prepared for more smoking than you see in films set in the present. Murrow himself was heavy smoker who died in 1965 of lung cancer. Also, this film focuses almost exclusively on the world of CBS. The larger world only appears in brief flashes, typically on television monitors.
--Michael W. Perry, editor of The School of Journalism in Columbia University: The Book That Transformed Journalism from a Trade into a Profession
A GREAT movie. Thank you George Clooney for making this September 25, 2008
Pro Peace (Colorado Springs, CO United States)
I love the black and white.
I will forever respect George Clooney for funding, producing and directing a movie that centers on a TRUE American hero. A time when news and entertainment were separate divisions on network TV and their were great and courageous journalists. Not the "brainless", talking head, "soap opera" stars of TV.
Great, great acting and done in a realistic, adult way, where we can "feel" the tension and think to ourselves about what would we do if we were in the late great Edward R. Murrow's shows or the head of the CBS news department. He lets the story be the star and use the great subtlety of black and white and the actors and their interactions be the star.
Edward R. Murrow should be remembered with pride as an American who whose responsibility he felt to other American's who depended on him to be factual, truthful and present the truth was greater than his personal ambition. What a rare trait in this "I, I, I" world.
Jon
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