Good night and Good luck - Essay Example

Good night and Good luck Goodnight and good luck is a film directed by George Clooney and produced in2005. This film reflects a time in the history of America. It paints a picture of America in the 1950’s. It reflects the era at the end of the world war two. It brings out features of life in America those times. The features brought out include the political situation, media and exposes the injustices America faced during McCarthyism. This movie is a real time reflector. It portrays the role of the media in those times and elaborates on the paranoia caused by McCarthyism on the people.

It exposes the tactics used by the senator McCarthy to silence his opposers. This movie is a vivid reminder of the days when America had an enemy from within. Some Americans supported the communists from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union wanted to bring America down and become the super powers. America therefore waged cold war against the communists. Any American supporting or sympathizing with the communists faced persecution. The director of the movie therefore seeks to challenge his viewers to relate the times in history with current happenings in America.

The director of this film chooses an open-ended story line, which makes the film unique. It shows the role the media plays in effectively exposing the injustices carried out by the senator and his counter parts but it leaves room for a critical viewer to guess what happens when the McCarthy system comes down. There is a side story that shows the failure of a love story by workmates. The story line also exposes activities of the government operations committee at the time of McCarthy. This film is in black and white color and is a good feature as it serves to take the mind of the viewer back to the 1950’s.

In those days, films were in black and white and this gives the film an extra score. This film carries a political message and the acting, set up, music and sound features bring out the right mood of the times reflected. Americans lived with the fear of the unknown those times. The McCarthy system oppressed people who opposed the senator, McCarthy. The senator takes advantage of America’s fear of the communists. He therefore publishes lies and slander against his opponents and files charges against them.

These people therefore face prosecution and are oppression from the justice system. The film is a great success in showing the tactics used by the McCarthy. In this film, the actor impersonating Murrow does a commendable job. He brings out the picture of this journalist back then. This journalist has a record in history for his firm stand on the role media; to both educate and entertain the public. Determined to fulfill his responsibility as a journalist, he refuses to present news without analysis and examination.

He understands that the media should create awareness to the public of all things happening at the time. With his producer, they set out to examine the validity of news coming into their station. It is not an easy task because in those days Americans did not enjoy freedom of speech. This character has habits that clearly paint a picture in the mind of the viewer of the fear they faced. He smokes so often to ease the fear and tension. The journalist Murrow is determined to expose the injustices of the political system.

He however faces challenges, one being that his boss wants to make profits. Those days’ media houses only made money from corporate through advertisement. However, they made little profits, as broadcasting was still new. Murrow stands for his integrity in such hard times. He sets a very good example to journalists today; some of them exchange integrity for money. This journalist hosts the first interactive show that interviews victims of oppression and false accusation from the selfish politicians.

This is the boldest step that Murrow takes because democracy was a dream. The director then elaborates how the media through this show, succeeds to expose the slander and rumors of the senator against the people. The journalist provokes the senator to defend himself but it is too late, the American public knows the truth already. The characters in this film play their role very well. They vividly bring out the mood of the times when Americans lived in fear. The role of the media comes out effectively.

In the end, they bring about the downfall of the senator. This film deserves the credit. It is relevant politically as it makes it easy for the viewer to compare times of the past with the current happenings. The viewers can therefore appreciate the democracy they are enjoying currently. The film poses a challenge to the media today; whether it can stand for integrity and be responsible. The media has the responsibility of informing the public. It should therefore pass the correct and valid information.

The director of this film is successful in the use of sound, music, and acting to bring out the story. Work Cited Good night and Good luck. Directed by George Clooney, (2005).