Good Night, and Good Luck - 2nd review

Dr. Worm beat me to the punch, reviewing the movie before I had a chance to see it. But I just couldn’t resist throwing my two cents in.

Good Night, and Good Luck is a very simple movie, with no special effects and a minimal soundtrack. The responsibility then rests solely on the actors to put forth a compelling movie, and this cast succeeds admirably. David Straitharn more than deserved his Oscar nomination, but that tends to minimize other performances in the movie that were just as spectacular, most notably George Clooney, Jeff Daniels, and Frank Langella. This was very straightforward movie-making, without frills or excess. The movie and the director didn’t try to make you feel a certain way or guide you in a particular direction; it had faith that you would go exactly where it intended you to go. It is odd that a movie with such a clear political stance would be like that, letting you form your own opinions instead of pushing its own on you.

It strikes me that things have basically turned completely around from the time of the McCarthy hearings. Back then, we had everyone scared of communism, so much so that even the smallest hint of deviance from the values of conservatism from someone caused them to be accused of being a communist. Basically, conservatives were running amok, and the liberals, especially in the press, were backing down and biting their tongues, afraid of reprisal and condemnation. Now, we have nearly the exact opposite. Liberals in the press reign supreme, and they let their opinions rule them to the point that some of them aren’t really journalists anymore. Because the liberal ideology is so prevalent and all-pervading, most conservatives are now biting their tongues, afraid of being labeled racists, homophobes, or totalitarians. My, how the tables have turned.

I disagree with George Clooney on basically every issue he has spoken about, but I respect his ability to speak. When he directs movies like this, it’s a little easier to understand his viewpoint, and they make me respect him as an intelligent and critical thinker. That doesn’t change the fact that my own opinions are diametrically opposed to his on just about everything. I guess people can ask questions in exactly the same manner and come up with completely different answers.

22 Rating: 9

Particle Man