Clooney a fitting guest for Person to Person revival

Good morning everyone.  It's nearly Friday!  So how many of you watched CBS' revival of Person to Person last night?  I know that American Idol was on.  My wife and I switched back and forth between the two.  I have my own views on having Charlie Rose and Lara Logan host the show.  But it was fitting to have George Clooney on the first time back after so many years.  That's because Clooney just happened to star alongside Jason Straithairn in a movie about Person to Person's original host Edward R. Murrow in 2005.  That movie was Good Night and Good Luck. And it is without a doubt, one of Clooney's best roles.  That's in this bonus edition of Reel Reviews.

Good Night and Good Luck is another wonderful film from George Clooney.  After his breakout in O Brother Where Art Thou?, one could only wonder if he could continue his success.  That question is answered with a definite yes in this movie.

It may not have won the Oscars it deserved, but that is only because it is a specialty film. Only those in the communication industry and those who know anything about the business or those who know about the conflict between Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy would really appreciate it.  That conflict was not made up.  To this day, it is still one of the most talked about conflicts in the history of broadcast news.

The infusion of the jazz group into the movie as both the soundtrack and part of the movie was perfect. David Strathairn looks and sounds just like Murrow. And even Clooney himself doens't overdo his bounds in his supporting role as Fred Friendly. And Straithairn is so dry with his jokes, that it actually makes them funny. The black and white effect is odd at first.  But after a few times of watching the movie, it becomes appreant why Clooney, who directed this movie as well as starred in it, used it.  This realization also makes the effect an entirely effective part of the movie.

Straithairn's warning against tv's direction hits close to home with the current situation in TV.   So many news agencies will grip onto anything that they can and then bleed it dry like leeches until there is nothing left, and even then continue to wear it out.  That is a constant in the news industry, which makes this movie one that, while it may not get the praise that it deserves, will be one of the few movies to remain relevant in society despite the era.

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Philip Sayblack can be contacted at psayblack@wnct.com