"Good Night, and Good Luck"

[GL Schmitt]

Good Night, and Good Luck

BY ROGER EBERT
October 21, 2005


Good Nigh and Good Luck

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is a movie about a group of professional newsmen who with surgical precision remove a cancer from the body politic. They believe in the fundamental American freedoms, and in Sen. Joseph McCarthy they see a man who would destroy those freedoms in the name of defending them. Because McCarthy is a liar and a bully, surrounded by yes-men, recklessly calling his opponents traitors, he commands great power for a time. He destroys others with lies, and then is himself destroyed by the truth.

The instrument of his destruction is Edward R. Murrow. MORE


Cast & Credits

Edward R. Murrow: David Strathairn
Fred Friendly: George Clooney
William Paley: Frank Langella
Don Hollenbeck: Ray Wise
Joe Wershba: Robert Downey Jr.
Shirley Wershba: Patricia Clarkson
Sig Mickelson: Jeff Daniels t,

Warner Independent Pictures presents a film directed by George Clooney.
Written by Clooney and Grant Heslov.
Running time: 93 minutes.
Rated PG.

 

[missile]

I predict George Clooney getting the same treatment as Michael Moore did from the Republicans,but also hope he makes as much moola as moore did too

 

[GL Schmitt]

I predict George Clooney getting the same treatment as Michael Moore did from the Republicans,but also hope he makes as much moola as moore did too

Well, Moore courted Republican displeasure by directly attacking Bush through documenting his lies, displaying his inconsistencies, and questioning his questionable actions.

Clooney, on the other, is doing a straight drama, centring around the animosity between two historical figures.

How can they hold Clooney responsible for the fact that the lies and power-grabbing policies of Joe McCarthy invariably reminds someone today of the lies and power-grabbing policies of George W.Bush.

As far as anyone can prove, that is just an unexpected development arising in the minds of the viewer, who note the similarity between someone like Joe McCarthy and our present republican demagogue, George W. Bush.

There is no proof Clooney meant it to pillory Bush and his Administration.

Yeah, right!

Actually, what I will be more interested to note, is the media’s reaction to the replay of one of journalists favourite heros, in a situation which echos one that they find themselves in today.

In that era, a pusillanimous media abetted a bully to the detriment of the country, while Morrow courted disaster by attacking McCarthy for his contemptible actions.

Will they see themselves as McCarthy’s sycophants, or will they see themselves as Morrow’s equal.

There are damn few who could honestly visualize themselves as one of the latter, and I wonder how they will react when forced to see themselves as one of the former.

Ebert’s critique seems to claim that the film is well made as cinema, I am wondering what impact it will have upon public discourse, especially amongst journalists and newsmen.

In that regard, it just could be an important film.

 

[GL Schmitt]

Clooney Fears Fighting Paparazzi Will Create Freedom Issues

Movie star George Clooney is happy to ignore the over-zealous efforts of the paparazzi who follow him everywhere because he fears that by limiting their powers he'll upset freedom of speech. While stars like Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz rally to change laws and fight against celebrity photographers, Clooney, whose father is respected newsman Nick Clooney, fears stars could be setting a bad precedent if they continue fighting the paparazzi. He explains, "These guys can be real jerks, these paparazzi, they're not trying to catch me doing something stupid, which I'll have to take hits for - they're trying to create you doing something stupid. They walk through the airport and go, 'Whose that fat chick you're with?' I'll take all of those hits in lieu of trying to restrict it, because the dangers of restricting it, or getting into those dangers, (is) like burning the first book. I get that they do some rotten things... It's a drag for me... (But) as a guy who believes in the free press, I think that some of these hits we have to take in order to not mess with freedom of speech."

Clooney Denies He Confronted Guard


NEW YORK Nov 4, 2005 — George Clooney denied a newspaper report that he was involved in a shoving match with a security guard outside a bar at London's West End.

The Evening Standard in London said Clooney had gotten into a pushing fight with a guard at Meza in the early hours of Friday morning after using the bar's rear entrance to avoid photographers.

According to the newspaper, a reception was being held at the bar for a screening of Clooney's latest film, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

A statement by Clooney's Los Angeles-based publicist, Stan Rosenfield, said the actor "did not get into a fight with a security guard. … However, he did get into an argument with someone connected with the movie. … And while it had nothing to do with the paparazzi, it did have everything to do with someone being unkind to a woman.

"While no punches were thrown, George told the person to knock it off."

In the statement, Clooney said he was coming to the defense of a woman he believed was being mistreated.

"I won't stand by while someone is being insulted and maligned," the 44-year-old actor said.

The Evening Standard said Clooney left with his ex-girlfriend, British TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, in a car that had pulled up at the bar.

Redbus, the company distributing "Good Night, and Good Luck" in Britain, said: "This is a storm in a teacup. George had traveled a long way for the premiere, and everyone was thrilled to see him and had a good time." It did not confirm or deny the incident.

A Meza spokeswoman said none of the staff were involved in any incident with Clooney, but that Clooney's British management had hired security guards separately for the reception.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is based on the battle between TV journalist Edward R. Murrow and Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s.

Clooney directed, co-wrote and starred in the film.

So, does Clooney's stand on paparazzi make him a safe target, is he just another Hollywood sorehead, or it there dirty work afoot?

Guess we must wait to see what sort of impact "Good Night, and Good Luck" will have.