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Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
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George Clooney's second film as director is an understated ensemble piece that details a campaign by journalists to take on the might of Senator Joe McCarthy during his attempts to root out “communists” in the 1950s. Clooney also appears as CBS newsroom producer Fred Friendly, but wisely retreats to the background for the most part in favour of David Strathairn. As languid anchorman Edward R Murrow (whose signature sign-off gives the film its title), Strathairn gives a magnificent performance of quiet, steadfast courage, taking on not only McCarthy but his concerned station boss William Paley (an excellent Frank Langella) over whether or not to air the provocative reports. Clooney uses — and occasionally overuses — archive footage of the hearings to bring the true bullying monstrousness of the junior senator from Wisconsin to life, while keeping the simmering drama tightly confined within the studios and offices of CBS. Gorgeously shot in black and white by cinematographer Robert Elswit through a fug of cigarette smoke, this Oscar-nominated movie not only establishes Clooney's credentials as a director, but also indirectly has much to say about the present state of the US media post 9/11. AS
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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89min
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Country of origin
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US / Fr / UK / Jpn
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Genre
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Period Drama based on a true story
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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George Clooney, Grant Heslov
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Theatrical distributor
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Redbus
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UK cinema certificate
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PG
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UK cinema release date
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February 2006
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| Academy 2005 |
Actor in a Leading Role |
David Strathairn |
Nominee |
| Academy 2005 |
Best Picture |
Grant Heslov |
Nominee |
| Academy 2005 |
Directing |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| Academy 2005 |
Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| Academy 2005 |
Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) |
Grant Heslov |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
Best Film |
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Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role |
David Strathairn |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
Best Screenplay (Original) |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
Best Screenplay (Original) |
Grant Heslov |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2005 |
The David Lean Award for the Best Achievement in Direction |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Director Motion Picture |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Motion Picture Drama |
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Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama |
David Strathairn |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Screenplay Motion Picture |
George Clooney |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2005 |
Best Screenplay Motion Picture |
Grant Heslov |
Nominee |
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