Clooney gains much directorial credibility

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is a great film on many levels, but above all, it's important and relevant. It demonstrates journalism in its purest form and features the most honest and integral journalist of his time, Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn in a role that demands Oscar consideration). \nClooney, whose only previous credit as director is "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," takes a giant step up in the world of directing with "Good Night." In his sophomore outing, he's able to be controversial and critical in a way even Michael Moore hasn't been able to do simply because he follows the basic tenets of journalism: he allows both sides of the story to have a voice. \nThose two sides are CBS news anchor Murrow along with his news team and Sen. Joseph McCarthy, whose only claim to fame was his accusations of several supposed communists in and around the State Department. During the 1950s Red Scare, McCarthy was able to frighten the American public into thinking communism was infiltrating America. Murrow was one of few to openly question the Senator's claims, on public television no less. He challenged McCarthy using only facts and the senator's own words, but more importantly, he allowed the Senator time on his show to respond to the claims.\nIn a brilliant touch to the film, Clooney uses the actual April 6, 1954 footage of McCarthy's response, which goes exactly as expected: he accuses Murrow himself of being a communist without any facts to back it. On his following show, Murrow responds to the claims with journalistic integrity.\n"Good Night" shows the sad truth even in television's early years, when content was controlled by the network heads and advertising sponsors. Murrow and his co-producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) argue this with then-head of CBS Bill Paley (Frank Langella), who does his best to give Murrow the freedom to speak while still acknowledging the network's sponsors. \nIn his farewell speech, Murrow warns that television exists to entertain, amuse and insulate. It dulls the minds of the public, but it can be used for so much more. TV can teach and inform and that is exactly how Murrow used it.