|
By
WADE GOSSETT
Is it a George Clooney
vanity project? Or is it a historical depiction of
the real-life and very public conflict between
television journalist Edward R. Murrow and Senator
Joseph McCarthy and his 1950s House Un-American
Activities Committee? Depending on your political
perspective, you may go with one or the other.
The fact remains, however -- in a reality-based
world, that is -- that Clooney's project is as
historically accurate as any fictionalized
non-documentary can be. Anyone who can be
defending McCarthy's tactics in this day and age
can only be ignorant of recent history or
objectively anti-freedom.
But Clooney's message -- yes, there's a message --
is not so much about the 1950s as it is about how
we're once again excusing incursions into our
Constitution-granted liberties in the name of
national security. Don't get scared though: This
is also one terrific film, full of passion and
excellent acting -- especially by both Clooney as
CBS producer Fred Friendly and David Strathairn as
his friend and colleague Murrow, as well as by
supporting players Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia
Clarkson.
Talking about messages, the film also works as an
indictment of our mainstream press. It's bracing
to see a newsman use his access to an audience to
go against a powerful political figure for
transgressions against the citizens. Today it
seems there's little a politician can do, from
initiating war to authorizing torturing and
kidnapping, that would elicit a bad word from our
so-called liberal press.
The disc also includes a commentary by Clooney and
producer-screenwriter Grant Heslov and the
theatrical trailer. |
