Ahoy, squirts! Quint here... George Clooney's GOOD LUCK, AND GOOD NIGHT is one of my hands down absolute most anticipated films left in 2005. The black and white photography looks amazing, the cast is great and the story is timed so perfectly that I expect it to hit a lot of chords with today's audiences. I can't wait for this flick! We have a couple reviews from Italy, so enjoy!

Hey Knowles,

American film student. Somehow found my way to Rome to study for a semester. Got
a review of the ol' Clooner's second step to the plate, 'Good Night, and Good
Luck' if you're interested.

To say that I was surprised with George Clooney and his first sit in the
director's chair, 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind', is a touch of an
understatement. I just didn't expect a film that seemed as
comfortable with itself as 'Confessions' did. Nor coming from any first time
director, much less an actor with no real experience behind the camera.

It should have been expected that Clooney would (and did) make an 'actors'
movie, however it was his ability to work the camera, to make the images pop
and to give such visual life to the film was just a straight shot into the left
field that smacked me in th side of the head. Granted the visual influences are
pretty identifiable I'll be god damned if the flow of the film's narrative
doesn't just 'work'.

Now, with his craft more assured and his convictions more attune, Clooney has
made himself an deadpan, slow-burn historical drama accounting the months in
which Edward Murrows and CBS challenged the maniacal Senator Joseph McCarthy at
the height of the Red Scare. Displaying a chameleon like attuness to what visual sense the material needs, he has impressed me again, both the comfort with the story and visual sense
supplementing it.

No longer is the camera bathed in sepia colors or sporting those lovely little
one take camera tricks. Now, Clooney paints the world of CBS News and Ed Morrow
as it was: a world of political chaos, bureaucratic injustice, and venomously
opposed convictions draped in shades of black and white and filtered through
the calming fuzz of a mono speaker. Oh yeah, the sound of the flick is entirely
Mono from the front two speakers, how friggin' cool is that!

All the performances are emotionally understated and totally engaging. David
Startham turns in a deft mesmerizer of a performance and holds the as
steadfastly as he holds his gaze into the camera. Clooney, as Fred Friendly
compliments Startham quite nicely and the two are an enjoyable watch.

Everyone follows suit, playing their parts with class and ease. And just like
Rugter Hauer side-swiped 'Confessions' with his backbreakingly great
performance, so does veteran thespian Frank Langella as CBS executive William
Paley and supplies the film with one of it's best scenes.

However, as enjoyable as all the subtly is, the film as a whole can feel a bit
too cold, a bit too distant from the high emotions that are coursing through
its characters. It especially shows in some of the subplots, especially one in
between Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson lack some much needed emotional
'ooomf'.

The large amount of archival footage, including all of what is seen of Senator
McCarthy, only furthers the authenticity.

The film is forthright with its sociological and political parallels, but there
is no real political leaning here. Simply a damn fine testament to the power of
the press, the dangers of media manipulation and fanaticism, and the need for
conscious, diligent political dialog in our society.

Like I said it's a damn stellar piece, giving the viewer the feeling of just
slipping into a moment in time. Clooney has proved himself good on his first
impressions and more than welcome to take the director's chair again.

If this is used let the name Pal Saradise go henceforth.

And here's one just as positive! Looks like we really have a winner here!!!

Ciao Harry!

It's not unusual for us Italians to have to wait for
months before we get to see American movies
(especially if they open during summer). Some movies
do open at the same time, and once in a while we are
the lucky ones, i.e. some movies open in Europe first.

Last Friday I had a chance to see "Good night, and
good luck" here in Rome (fortunately it was no dubbed
and I could enjoy it in its original language, usually
quite difficult here in Italy). I have to say I had
very high expectations and I sure wasn't disappointed:
the movie is very, very good.

I won't get into the story details because I'm pretty
sure everybody knows them, but this is one of those
movies you could talk about for months.

Choosing black and white stock allowed the filmmakers
to seamlessly blend the actual real footage of the
McCarthy's era into the film without distracting the
audience: it was a courageous but somehow logical
choice, and it works perfectly. It's pretty scary,
because you later realize everything you see in the
movie took place not that long ago.

The acting is very good and I wouldn't be surprised if
I see Stathairn's name on the oscar nominations list
in a few months. Terrific job, but hats off to all the
cast.

Technically, this movie is pretty much flawless, and
Clooney proves once again he can be an excelletn
director, although I'm not completely sure the Robert
Downey Jr. subplot worked very well.

I guess the most important thing about this film is
its clearly political message, and you can't avoid it.
It's not a Michael Moore film, but it makes you think
and ask yourself a lot of questions: do we live in a
state of fear? are the media partly responsible? Is
true journalism still out there or are we being given
information by state-controlled puppets? how can we,
the people, change things?

The movie doesn't give you answers, and it would be
pointless if it did, but it shows how a team of 6 did
change things 50 years ago. It's almost scary, because
you realize how things are not that different today.

If this movie had come out 2 years ago, it would've
been labeled as anti-american and Clooney would have
had to apologize for it. Maybe this is the right time
for people to see this.

If you use this please call me Trinità :-)