Has anyone seen Goodnight and Good Luck? I finally saw it last weekend and it is a very powerful movie. I think that Edward R. Murrow had guts and integrity in spades, something lacking in today's journalists. I think every reporter and news producer should see this film, to remind them of what news should be. Not so much that they should take a stand, but Murrow's point that news (and television) should be informative and thought provoking, not merely entertaining.

I loved the movie,,,That Mccarthy,,,what a nut!

Murrow's point that news (and television) should be informative and thought provoking, not merely entertaining.

Well, it SHOULD be, but when one panders to the pockets of the lowest common denominator in pursuit of the Almighty Dollar, welcome to where we are.

I'll be sure to give it a look

Best movie that came out last year.

IMHO, they missed the boat by not including more background information on the DVD for educational purposes.

As to "That Mccarthy,,,what a nut!", historical records released after the Cold War showed that he was factually correct in most of his accusations. Most of the American public supported him but his thirst for personal power ultimately corrupted him and lead to his downfall.

While I can't defend his style or necessarily his methods, Communist inflitration of American institutions was a real problem and had to be defeated.

I'd expect this is another Hollywood "liberal message" movie and so I doubt I'll see it. Probably better to pick up a book on the Verona project (intercepted communications between the KGB and American commies) or maybe John Lewis Gaddis' "The Cold War: A New History."

Getting your politics from movies is for the weak minded - read several books instead.

Getting your politics from movies is for the weak minded - read several books instead.

Just don't get all your books from the National Review's booklist... unless you like your reading list pre-filtered for a different "weak-minded" compatibilty.

I'd expect this is another Hollywood "liberal message" movie and so I doubt I'll see it.

Or you could go see it for yourself and then make up your mind???????? It's obviously a topic that interests you.

Getting your politics from movies is for the weak minded - read several books instead.

And beating your political drum, regardless of flavor, on AK is against the rules. Y'all lighten this one up, or away it goes.

I explicitedly said "several" books so that one can form an opinion based on more than one prespective.

The National Review has one point of view and Mr. Gaddis' work as a professor of political science at Yale may present a different one. I've read Professor Gaddis' work before and find it well-considered historical analysis and so can recommend it. I don't agree with all he's written. But in matters of fact, such as Verona and the KGB, there is no doubt.

Again, fictional movies are too emotion-laden to serve as the basis for democratic opinion-making by responsible citizens.

As to watching the movie, I'm old enough to remember seeing at least one of the hearings live on TV as a child. It scared me it was so tense. I might pickup the DVD someday but I'm rather down on Hollywood given my bad experiences with their product the last few years. If this movie really added to the political debate, then it would be my duty to see it but from what I can tell, it's bogus claptrap in denial about historical facts. I've got better ways to spend my money and my time.

Feel free to convince me otherwise - a good movie is hard to find.

It's on my "to do" list, whether I see it in the theatre or via Netlflix will depend on my schedule. Saw "Walk The Line" several months ago and really enjoyed it. Also want to see "Capote".

My next will be Narnia, as I am a big C.S. Lewis fan. Then I want to see "Crash." My 17 year old daughter saw "Walk the Line" and she really liked it so I guess I will have to see it now.

Also want to see "Capote".

Haven't seen it yet. Did read "In Cold Blood" last year though. Should be interesting to see the overlay.

I explicitedly said "several" books so that one can form an opinion based on more than one prespective.

You would have had to sign for them then, so that others could keep track of what you were reading. That is a historical fact.


As to watching the movie, I'm old enough to remember seeing at least one of the hearings live on TV as a child. It scared me it was so tense.
It could have been you. See above.

And beating your political drum, regardless of flavor, on AK is against the rules. Y'all lighten this one up, or away it goes.
Couldn't happen fast enough if you ask me. I'm just a newbie here.

All the best,

John

Whitehall, relax buddy..its just a movie..dont go making broadstroke judgements upon movie talk...it doesnt look good...

Most of the american public supported him....well thats a testimony to good sense...

So Blue Lateral is just a "newbie" - with 755 posts?

I can see why political topics are discouraged given the above post.

But how does one discuss an overtly political movie with pretenses to a historical tale? Can we discuss "Gone with the Wind" without discussing slavery? "Triumph of the Will"? "Mrs. Miniver"?

We could, I imagine, talk "auteur" theory but I'm sure that "Good Night" is well constructed and done in a craftsman-like way.

Should we compel attendence at certain movies, as in "Clockwork Orange" because they are "good" for us? Of course not. I will rely on prior experience and reviews from others to determine what's worth my time and what's not. Sometimes I'll watch worthless stuff and sometimes I'll miss gems.

Oh well. We lived a long time without movies. I still think political movies are manipulative and I'd rather not be the passive receptor.

See it first. Make your judgment afterward. YMMV.

Dianne Reeves is SPECTACULAR in "Good Night and Good Luck". I just may have to buy the soundtrack.

I still think political movies are manipulative and I'd rather not be the passive receptor.

Insert "newspaper", "TV news", or "pop music". All "art" had better be manipulative, or it will flop. The trick is avoiding overt propaganda.

We won't see the like of Ed Murrow, Walter Cronkite, or Bill Paley again.

I took my most "right-wing" (VERY right-wing) friend to see "Syriana". He hates George Clooney, and he disliked the film for its presentation of the Middle East in relation to the USA, even though it was written by a right-wing maverick. He didn't like the messenger, didn't want to hear the message, and pre-judged it. As closed minded as they come.

But the soundtrack to "Syriana" is great, too. :music:

I really liked the music, too! Ditto on getting the soundtrack. Frank Langella put in a great performance as Bill Paley.

My point is that deliberatively manipulative political fiction finds no audience with me.

Again, should one have had an open mind to "Triumph of the Will?" What did you come away feeling after "China Syndrome"?

Both "Syriana" and "Good Night" are efforts to persuade using the power of fictive media. They are not subtle about it - good art IS subtle, and ambiguous.

Likewise, newspapers that infuse their articles with blatant slants, one way or the other, are doing me no service. TV news is worst than worthless - I can barely watch Fox news even.

Having one's defenses up when faced with deliberate propaganda is a smart , self-protective move and one all citizens should practice. What happened to critical thinking?

So, was Joe McCarthy correct about the Communists? Were the methods he used good for our political health? Was he driven by self-interest or the country's good? Should Eisenhower have put the kaboosh on Joe earlier - and it was Ike who pulled the rug out from him, not Morrow, at least in most histories.

I don't expect this movie to really get to the heart of those issues. If you come away from just this movie thinking you understand the issues, you don't.

OK, I'll see it when it comes out on DVD....

And with that little bouquet of sunshine, I say, in the words of Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, "Well, King, this case is closed."

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/sgt-preston.jpg