10 Greatest Films About Journalism
8. Good Night, And Good Luck (2005)
Set during the height of the Cold War, Good Night, and Good Luck tells the story of famed CBS news anchor Edward R Murrow and his battle against the notorious Senator Joe McCarthy.
As fear of domestic communism spread across the United States, McCarthy spearheaded an intense and baseless witch hunt that claimed the careers and lives of hundreds of innocent victims. Unafraid of McCarthy and other Red Scare agitators, Murrow used his platform and trusted reputation to become one of the senator's most notable critics, during a time when criticism was met with scandalous accusations of disloyalty and treason.
A stern and reserved man of integrity, Murrow is played by the brilliant David Strathairn who delivered with a masterful dramatic performance. Supported by cast featuring Robert Downey Jr, Jeff Daniels and George Clooney, who also directed the film, Good Night, and Good Luck received glittering critical acclaim from critics.
Filmed entirely in black and white, the mixture of real footage and newsroom drama was universally praised for setting the tone and atmosphere of this gritty journalism classic. The movie would be nominated for six Oscars, with the nomination for Best Picture being supported by individual recognition for Strathairn and Clooney in the acting and directing categories retrospectively.