"Good Night, and Good Luck"

 Provocative, principled and richly detailed are just a few words to describe George Clooney's 2005 award-winning film "Good Night, and Good Luck". It's a film that is both timely and timeless, as it opens the doors to open discussions about family, politics, loyalty, and other topics. 

Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" is a striking take on the cultural and political climate of the 1950's. Using aesthetic elements, strong dialogue, and an extremely talented and dedicated cast, the film illustrated a strong depiction of what society was like then, and how related it can be for society now. 

"In a nation terrorized by its own government, one man dared to tell the truth", as the threat of communism lurked the streets in the United States. With the paranoia, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin harped and exploited the fear that lingered. 

Like in all story lines, the hero rises. CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and his producer Fred W. Friendly decided to dare against Senator McCarthy and expose him for weaponizing the fear of the people for his own gain. 

Their efforts took great tolls on them personally, as they buried the emotion of stories within themselves to only report the truth and the whole truth. Murrow and Friendly reminded viewers of what journalism should be like, and is to a lot of people beyond fabricated, yet catchy headlines that sweep away the majority of listeners still to this day. 

Bringing down one of the most controversial senators in the history of the United States government, Clooney's film outlines the relationship between the government and the press that was present in the 1950's and still is in our society today. 

The issue that the CBS news team faced was whether or not they wanted to do what was right for the country, and what their job description morally described, or if they wanted to remain silent to ensure the safety of themselves and their reputation. 

The case of Milo Radulovich was a since closed case, as he was put on trial for being a communist. Murrow and others believed that he was persecuted and punished as a type "punch bag" for the true actions of Senator McCarthy. Many of big titled workers at CBS fought against reporting on this case because of the fear of ruining their reputations or being hunted by Senator McCarthy. 

The heroes of the story, however, did not let fear get in the way of their jobs as journalists. They forgot the fears and stuck with the motivation and dedication to inform the American people of what they had rights to be informed to, and reporting on the case against their orders. 

This is what made them heroes. This is what made the American people finally know the truth. 

Clooney's film does not only play as a reminder of the cultural and political climate of the 1950's, or the "McArthyism" that haunted our nation, but as an influence and goal setter to journalists around the globe. Journalists are not educated and hired to work at the feet of political gains and people in power, "the untouchable", but to inform the American people of the truth behind our nation and behind closed doors and allow them to draw their own conclusions and beliefs based on all the facts, something that we aren't shown a lot of in this day in age. 

So to all future journalists...

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Good Night and Good Luck film by George Clooney, 2005