Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie Review

A fine historical drama looks marvelous in black, white, and Blu.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 30, 2007

Radio’s great, but it’s out of date. TV is the thing this year!

By the early 1950s, television was finally coming into its own as an important, respected, and popular medium not only to entertain, but to inform. Still in its earlier stages of development, television had its work cut out for it. Radio, though relatively new itself (the first commercial radio broadcast emanated from the Pittsburgh, PA based KDKA on November 2, 1920), had gained immense popularity, seeing America through a depression and a World War, all the while bringing live sporting events and situational comedies into the homes of millions of Americans. By the Eisenhower era, radio had enjoyed a 30-plus year history as a proven medium. Almost every home with clear reception had a radio, including home-made "crystal" sets, and Americans generally sat "glued" to the radio, hanging on every word and note that emanated from the box, much like many Americans have hung onto every word coming from televisions since the Vietnam conflict. Television had the same goals as radio, but was obviously a more costly medium for Americans to adopt over their beloved radios. I can't help but to think of the line from Back to the Future when Marty McFly, in 1955, says that his family has two television sets. "Wow, you must be rich!" is the response from Milton. His mother replies, "Oh, honey, he's teasing you. Nobody has two television sets." Anecdotal evidence to be sure, the quote is nevertheless representative of the typical response to television sets in early 1950s America. It was a luxury item, one worthy of a place in the home should one be able to afford to make it a part of their lives. Despite the cost, by 1955 some 36 million sets were in homes, and America's love affair with television was in full swing. It was only a year earlier, in 1954, with the threat of Communism and the Cold War looming over America, that television would begin to play an influential role in the shaping of American policy both at home and abroad, a role it still enjoys today, though it is today waning in the face of competition from another relatively new and powerful medium, the Internet.

Edward R. Murrow lashes out against Senator Joseph McCarthy.

"Good Night, and Good Luck" is the sign-off phrase of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn, We Are Marshall). Murrow is an employee of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) and host of the popular television program See It Now, produced by Fred Friendly (George Clooney, Ocean's Thirteen). As the film opens, Murrow is speaking to a crowd assembled in his honor in October 1958. He warns of the danger of losing television as a medium of distributing information to the masses and allowing it to be controlled by a select few, who instead use it simply as an "idiot box" (my words, not his), that serves only to "distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us" from the ugliness that is reality in the world. Here, he is foreshadowing for the movie's audiences and recapping for his "live" audience his release by CBS following his push to discredit Junior U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy. On his show, Murrow would show what he believed to be the "unpleasant [and] disturbing information" that television big-wigs wanted kept from the American public.

Though also a tabloid journalist of sorts, interviewing and discussing the likes of Liberace on his other television program, Person to Person, Murrow wants to begin editorializing the real news of the day. He never has before, but the story of disgraced Air Force Lieutenant Milo Radulovich has led Murrow to believe that his story is the one he must stand up against in the harsh public light and fight for. Radulovich has been discharged from the Air Force under the pretense of being a risk to security. The evidence against the Lieutenant: his father has subscribed to a Serbian newsletter. Sig Mickelson (Jeff Daniels, The Lookout), a CBS executive, objects, but Murrow and Friendly proceed. The piece airs, featuring reporting by Joe Wershba (Robert Downey, Jr., Gothika) and is a complete success. McCarthy, however, labels Murrow as a Communist, and thus begins a tit-for-tat series of exchanges between the broadcaster and Senator. Eventually, Murrow emerges seemingly victorious, but CBS boss Bill Paley (Frank Langella, Superman Returns) moves Murrow's show to a Sunday afternoon time slot, and for only five more episodes, saying that "people want to enjoy themselves...they don't want a civics lesson," and Murrow's fears, which he addressed at the start of the picture, are, for the moment, seemingly realized due in part to his own actions.

There is a lot to like about Good Night, and Good Luck. For example, this is a very "busy" film. People constantly talk over one another, characters cannot be heard over the din of the newsroom, and the film therefore has a very lifelike, realistic feel about it. The only time the pace slows down is when Murrow is broadcasting live on television, and these are the most tense moments in the picture. Acting is brilliant throughout this picture. As the cover art for this Blu-ray disc so boldly states, Good Night, and Good Luck garnered six Academy Award nominations, including a best actor nod for David Strathairn who turns in a memorable and brilliant performance as Murrow. His mannerisms closely resemble those of the real broadcaster and he's utterly believable as the controversial 1950s newsman. Clooney, Downey, Jr., and Langella also shine. The black and white photography is stunning, as is the art direction (which itself received an Oscar nomination). This is an important film. Director George Clooney has openly stated that the driving force behind the film are some parallels he sees happening today with the McCarthy era, and this film is also relevant as the same battle waged between radio and television then is once again being fought today, this time between television and the Internet. This is a film well worth seeing, and with a PG rating it's suitable and recommended viewing for all, though it will undoubtedly go over the heads of younger audiences.

Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

This 1080p, 1.85:1 black and white image is pristine. It's been a while since I enjoyed a black and white film, and I'd forgotten just what a beautiful thing to behold a well done colorless film is. It captures the feel of the period all too well. Detail is strikingly high throughout. There is nary a hiccup to be seen. This is a sharp, lifelike image. The clarity of the details is something else. For example, every bead of sweat on Murrow's face as he broadcasts under the hot studio lights looks amazingly real. Even the old stock footage of Senator McCarthy and Annie Lee Moss look to be in remarkably good shape given their age. A fine transfer all around, and the first black and white picture I have seen in high definition, is a wonder to behold. I yearn for more black and white movies in high definition on Blu-ray after seeing this. Kudos.

Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As an almost completely dialogue driven film, it comes as no surprise that this is a front heavy soundtrack. Action takes place completely indoors, and there is little to no ambience to be heard throughout the film. Warner has chosen to only include a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, and frankly it doesn't hurt a movie such as Good Night, and Good Luck. With little opportunity for the soundtrack to wander away from the center channel, this at times sounds like a mono track, but that's fine. Dialogue is key, and it sounds great. David Strathairn's voice sounds so lifelike that you are often drawn into the studio with him and Fred Friendly. It's hard to tell that this is a soundtrack and not real life during his monologues. I really can't fault this track for being what it is. A soundtrack doesn't need whizzing bullets, heavy bass, and active surrounds to be a good, pleasing listen. Good Night, and Good Luck sounds just fine.

Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, supplements are scare on this release. First up is a commentary track featuring actor/director George Clooney and producer Grant Heslov. The two have been friends since 1982 and don't delve very deep into their inspirations and motivations for making this film. Clooney mentions his father being an anchorman and Murrow being his hero, but we don't hear nearly enough of this tale. We get some nuts-and-bolts here and there, not to mention some dead air as the duo watches the movie rather than discusses it, and for the most part this track is not worth a listen, unfortunately.

A Good Night, and Good Luck Companion Piece (480p, 15:05), featuring interviews and some behind-the-scenes footage regarding the historical representations in the film, is included. Finally, a 480p trailer for Good Night, and Good Luck, edited to obviously parallel today's political climate, wraps up this weak offering of supplements. I encountered some difficulty getting any of the supplements to play on my Playstation 3, and I had to resort to accessing the commentary and the features by pressing the "audio" and "Go to" keys on my remote (audio track 2 is the commentary, title 5 is the trailer and title 6 is the companion piece)

Good Night, and Good Luck. Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Whatever your current political affiliation or your stance on the tactics of both McCarthy and Murrow, this is a brilliant, well made film that is well worth watching. Good Night, and Good Luck showcases some of the finest acting performances in recent memory and represents filmmaking at its finest. It's a take on one of the most tumultuous eras in American history and the result is fine entertainment that will leave you thinking long after the end of the film. The image quality on this disc is brilliant and the audio is sufficient. Extras are severely lacking, however. Recommended for those interested in beautiful black and white photography or those seeking an intellectually stimulating motion picture.