Good News
Good Night and Good Luck
Review Review by Ross Anthony

Straight, stark, to the point. Takes ten or so minutes to warm into, but soon enough harnesses a quiet excitement. It's the same kind of excitement that stirs in a film about an underdog football team that challenges the standing champions. But, it's not so visual, imagine the chess team sitting in the closet with a flashlight going over moves to trip up the enemy.

Rides on a subtle exhilaration of daring to do something that you know will open you, make you vulnerable. But you do that thing anyway, because you know in your heart that it is exactly the thing to do. You know it so strongly, that if you don't do it, you might be safe, secure, comfortable, but you will lose something precious, something self-defining, something whose loss will make security feel pointless.

Maybe that thing is telling your boss to take a hike, maybe that thing is calling the police on an abusive spouse, maybe that thing is letting yourself fall in love. In this film, that thing is telling a powerful US senator that he has stepped out of bounds, that his personal quest for security is damaging the very thing, the very essence of that which he seeks to protect.

In that respect, I'm not surprised by the release of this film in this current time in American history -- and I applaud the reminder.

So why only a B+ and not an A? As a film -- an entertainment piece, the work fails to fully mature and climax. Clooney as director initiates a disciplined momentum that terminates too soon. Film reviews seldom say this, but the production could have used another full 10-20 minutes more impacting footage at the tail end.

Still a good film. And I'm glad to see David Strathairn highlighted, he's a fine actor, I loved his performance in "Lost in Yonkers."

This film screened at a Laemmle Theatre.

  • Good Night and Good Luck. Copyright © 1984.
  • Starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Frank Langella, Jeff Daniels, Ray Wise, Tate Donovan, Tom McCarthy, Matt Ross, Reed Diamond,, Robert John Burke, Grant Heslov.
  • Director by George Clooney.
  • Screenplay by George Clooney, Grant Heslov.
  • Produced Grant Heslov at Warner Independent/2929/Participant/Davis/Redbus/Tohokushinsha.

Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4)

Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.

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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 08:10:09 PDT