Good Night and Good Luck (Vote with your wallet)

[Protagoras]

I just got back from an afternoon matinee of Clooney's latest.

And while I'm sure some have seen, and some have reviewed I can tell you this...It's not often that at the end of a movie the audience the whole audience sits quietly for a moment and then begins applauding.

And this wasn't opening night. And this was in suburbia.

Actually I think it's rather strange to applaud a movie...no one is up there taking a bow. But perhaps it's a good way to tell everyone else IN the audience just how impressed you are.

I'm going to be sending my father-in-law fandango tickets to see this. I'm going to tell everyone I know it's a great movie. And I'm not going to go into detail.

But I'm going to vote with my wallet here. I'm going to do my best to make sure that Clooney makes a buck on this pic. I'm going to do my best to see that word of mouth is good. And that it's a DVD that gets given out for presents.

I won't loan copies...I'll purchase them and give them to friends and relatives.

And I'll hope like hell that the DVD has the historical extras that I think it can have.

If you haven't seen it...I am not here to act like a trailer for it. I'm here to tell you not to wait. There hasn't been a better week to see it. Everything that it addresses has been exposed in technicolor this last week.

from the official 2000 dead, to the Hariet Miers idiocy, to...of course...the Plame Indictments...all covered (read that how you will) by our corporate media.

Where will we find the next person who stands in the right place, at the right time...with the right conscience...to fill Edward R. Murrow's shoes?

Buy the tickets. Fill the theaters. Support the Oscar for David Strathairn because he earned it.

And if this sounds like an ad...well I guess it is...because I haven't been this moved by a movie or piece of art (and I think it's both) in ...well ever.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. I was soooo hoping to hear this! Thanks!

[fooj]

2. Wow. I can't wait to see it. We are going this week!

Thanks for the review!

Peace.

[rainy]

5. It's not even playing near me yet. Why is it not a big release?

[Protagoras]

21. Clooney never thought this would be a "Blockbuster"

he knew from the start it would be something akin to a documentary or arthouse film. Given that it's in black and white, and uses real historical broadcasts and isn't all that flattering...I'm impressed it's getting the showing it is.

But it can do better if we give it the word of mouth it deserves...and if it isn't playing near you then write your local paper and call your local theater owners and encourage them to show this GREAT movie you're hearing about.

We don't need to scream at them or call them names for not being on board yet. We do need to let them know that we'll gladly spend our dollars on it if they have the good sense to bring it.

I'd love to see this film about the history of a moment in the history of TV and the country shown on TV...Commercial free of course. But which network would be brave enough and self critical enough to show it?

Still I can dream.

[1932]

28. Straitharn will get nominated for an Oscar and it'll make even more $

next spring.

[sunnystarr]

36. Check again ...

I'm pretty sure it was released everywhere on October 28th. Many films now start showing in selected theaters in a handful of large cities before the general release to all theaters.

[Coexist]

40. Not in Tampa - we have to wait until November 4th

if they show it here at all - Tampa is not listed on the release dates.

[NVMojo]

3. I can't wait until it shows up in the theaters of the bastion of Repukes

that I live in!!! Thanks for sharing and inspiring! I will vote with my wallet!

[ThatsMyBarack]

4. I saw this yesterday!

I went with my folks. We thought $5.50 a ticket for the 4:45 p.m. show was a bargain.

The theatre was filled to near capacity, and everyone clapped at the end!

[Jon8503]

6. Hey, saw it in KC and the same thing, it was over, quiet for a moment and

then everyone started applauding. I made the comment to my wife, have not seen that in a while. Yeah, great movie.

[BuelahWitch]

13. Same thing happened in Overland Park, KS

:hi: I went to an early matinee yesterday. Drove up from Lawrence. The only other movie I've done that for was Finding Neverland.

[pacalo]

7. I'm desperately anxious to see it.

It's just that the opportunity to see it is so limited. I saw on the GNGL website that there will be additional theaters added to the screening list on November 4th, but there's no information on which ones, which cities will be included. I wrote to them to request that they please post them on the GNGL website as soon as they know.

[serryjw]

8. I also just came back from seeing it

Every you said is correct! I am expecting many Academy nominations. I must admit I was so enthralled that I forgot I was watching part REAL history and part Hollywood. Besides the obvious EDITING will get an Oscar!!

Congratulation George Clooney...your father should be proud

[yorkiemommie1]

9. i can't wait !

n/t

[Little Star]

10. Thanks for the review

I haven't seen it because it has not made it near me yet. I plan on going and taking my 4 grown daughters with me. I will also take your advice and give it as gifts when it hits DVDs. We should make this movie a number one box office hit. They deserve it and maybe we will get more worthwhile movies.

[The Traveler]

11. Seeing this movie is definitely on my action list

'cause Murrow was just so damn cool.

[China_cat]

25. I take it you're not old enough to remember

"See It Now" on TV? I was young, but I remember not only this series, but this particular show and a couple leading up to it. You know, what I don't remember are any commercials during it.

[The Traveler]

26. Not quite old enough

I really don't remember much news coverage before 63. But I've seen clips.

[terip64]

12. I saw it! Loved it! I will own it & pay for my college age kids to see it

This movie filled me with such hope and you are right, everybody needs to see it now. This has been a very hard week for Americans. When we saw it everyone in the theater was older than my husband and I. (43 and 41) It was very moving watching all the older people waiting in long lines and walking, many with walkers, into the theater. We, too applauded at the end and I wished I had seen it with my own parents. You were very aware of how important a time in history it was and how it applied to today. We drove an hour to see it, and I think that people shouldn't assume that it will come to your neighborhood theater. It seems to be very limited. It was well worth the ride and an amazing was experience!

[terip64]

14. kick and nominated

[CTyankee]

15. Yep. We're going Veteran's Day

My husband is a city worker and has the day off that Friday so we'll go then. It's on in 2 theatres in New Haven. Hope it is still playing then!

It's good that audiences are so supportive. I think it's great, but you have to remember that McCarthy was such a "heavy" because of his alcoholic thick head and face and his loose rambling. Obviously, the good guys here are the good looking and reasonable ones. I don't know if today's audiences understand everything that was going on. For some people the cold war is just unfathomable. How would they truly know what this movie is about? A lot of them weren't old enough to know about McCarthyism.

Good movies are out. I just saw "Capote" and posted in the DU Lounge on it. It was excellent. I'm hoping it and "Good NIght" will be big winners at the Oscars in 06.

[Dinger]

16. I Just Wrote A LTTE Complaining How It Is CENSORED In Wisconsin

It's taking too goddamn long! I wanna see it, I wanna see it, I wanna see it, I wanna see it, I wanna see it, I wanna see it!!!!!!!!

[walldude]

18. It's not Censored.. it had a limited release (11 theaters)

Expanded to over 300 on Oct 21st and will expand to another 300 theaters this coming Friday...

[Dinger]

24. Good, I Am Definitely Glad To Hear That!

Thanks!:)

[kurth]

17. Great history lesson for every American

Kinda interesting to see how EVERYBODY back then smoked like a freight train...

[WA98296]

19. Going tomorrow night, paying full price, and we can't wait!

[K8-EEE]

20. Loved it LOVED IT!

Great flick!! So beautifully crafted and shot too. I was in tears too, and my 14 y/o daughter wrote a glowing review for her school paper. My hub is def putting it in the Best Pic category (he can't nom actors but all Academy voters nom Best Pic. Actors nom actors.) I can't imagine Strathairn not getting a nom and George Clooney for Best Director too. Not because of any political statement but damn, that was a good movie. Just awesome.

[skipos]

22. The audience clapped here in Michigan too. nt

[China_cat]

23. I want so badly to see it

but it's not playing anywhere within 100 miles of Charleston and none of the theaters have it a future lineup even though they've had the new Harry Potter movie listed for 2 weeks now and it doesn't open for another 2.

I have the serious feeling I'm going to have to wait for DVD to see it.

[1932]

27. Not only did my audience applaud at the end. They applauded parts in the

middle.

[IndyOp]

29. I'm Trying! I actually emailed the manager of my local theater this week

to ask when it is coming!! It always takes FOREVER for movies to get to my little town. He said it would be here next week -- I'm waiting to see it appear on the online listings and I will BE THERE!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[kittenpants]

30. If they would just release the f*ing thing here already!!!

[Fly by night]

31. First showing in Nashville; theater crowded & Orange Staters applauded

[DemReadingDU]

32. Not yet in my area either, but I see

ads on TV for several times a day.

[wildeyed]

33. What a coincidence, I just got back from seeing it!

Everyone applauded here, too. I loved the Eisenhower clip at the end.

[mcscajun]

45. I had this thought about the Eisenhower clip...

...how many of the young people seeing this film (and I hope many do) will see that clip of him defending the basic American right of habeas corpus and ask as they exit the theatre: "Who was that old bald guy?"

[wildeyed]

52. It is true, it is a much stronger piece if you know who

the old bald guy is. Honestly, I didn't get all of the subtexts, either. I saw the movie in a theater with an overall much older audience, and they seemed to laugh in places where I was just kind of blank. Like the line about Ava Gardener not encouraging her husband to wear his wedding band to work. Everyone laughed there. I have no idea why. :shrug:

[mcscajun]

54. From 1951 to 1957 -- Ava Gardner was married to Frank Sinatra.

:)

[wildeyed]

55. But why would she not want him to wear his wedding band?

n/t

[mcscajun]

57. No evidence she ever did. It was just a joke. Imagine Anyone

Telling Frank Sinatra NOT to do something. :)

In any case, the battling Sinatras were legendary.

[ignatius 2]

34. Thanks for the review. I will say here in Indy,Farenheit 911 received

applause, I was delighted but also shocked. The theatre was crowded and this is a red state but there it was..applause.

[longship]

35. Wife and I saw it yesterday.

Both of us agreed that it was a hard-hitting, pull no punches drama. In spite of the fact that its message is framed in the McCarthy era there is little doubt that this is a movie about the current group of Repugs.

Some random comments...

David Strathairn is absolutely flawless as Murrow. I have many old recordings of Murrow and Strathairn has his somewhat stacatto delivery perfected. This had to be a difficult part to learn. Oscar caliber.

The rest of the actors do a good job. I see a supporting oscar nomination for Ray Wise as CBS news anchor Don Hollenbeck. Hell, Tailgunner Joe McCarthy should get one, too. hehehe

In one of the McCarthy hearing segments, Bobby Kennedy is clearly visible at the right end of the table. At that time, he was counsel for McCarthy's subcommittee. He does not look too pleased with the proceedings.

Don't waste anymore time. Go see this movie. It is a gem.

[BuelahWitch]

39. I also thought Frank Langella was excellent as Bill Paley

As well as Ray Wise, who played the newscaster Don Hollenbeck, who I believe is the only fictional character in the show (at least the web site doesn't indicate he was a real person).

But Strathairn should definitely be nominated!

[longship]

41. Don Hollenbeck was real

I vaguely remember him, although I was quite young, six years old at the time. He committed suicide after being swept up in the anti-communist bullshit.

The Lincoln Star
Lincoln, Nebraska
June 24, 1954

Hollenbeck Rites
In N.Y. Friday

NEW YORK (AP) - Funeral services for Don Hollenbeck, CBS television news commentator who committed suicide by gas in his apartment, will be held Friday noon in the chapel of the Campbell Funeral Home.

Dr. John Bell, of the Church of the Incarnation, will conduct the services. Burial will be private.

John Gude, the 49-year broadcaster's agent, said Hollenbeck had been suffering severely from stomach ulcers and had been in a hospital twice in the past four months.

Hollenbeck a former Lincoln and Omaha newspaperman and Associated Press picture editor leaves his widow and two daughters.

[wildeyed]

56. Wise was amazing.

He radiated such despair without ever really alluding to it in his speech or actions.

[myrna minx]

46. Ray Wise was brilliant.

He was so convincing playing a man on the edge. I hope he is nominated for a supporting role.

[bonzotex]

37. Yes... it is brilliant....no buts, no qualifiers...See it!!!!

Saw it Friday here. The movie is a beautiful snapshot of an era. I wonder how many younger people that see it will have any clue what McCarthy and the red scare was all about?

It doesn't matter as far as the movie goes. It stands on it's own.

It will make you want to weep that there are no Edward Murrows left.

[A Brand New World]

38. I can't wait to see it. It hasn't made it to my part of W. Central OH.

The only other movie that I've gone to where there was applause was Fahrenheit 911. In red state of Ohio, purple county of Clark, there was a full audience at a matinee with rousing applause at the end.

Like I say, can hardly wait for Good Night & Good Luck. I'm too young, thank God, and didn't live through the McCarthy era but have certainly heard a lot about it.

[burrowowl]

42. Several of us are going to see it!

2 of us although very young remember seeing McCarthy on TV.

[Rainscents]

43. I just saw the movie the other day and it was BEAUTIFULLY done!

Theather was packed!

[tavalon]

44. My partner and I went to see it last night

There were only about 20 people in the audience.

It was a very intelligent and well done movie. I wonder how popular it will be. I worry that people only like dumbed down movies.

[myrna minx]

47. When it opened in Minneapolis, people were lined up around the block

trying to get into the Uptown. The only other time I have seen lines like that for a film was for F911 and The Blair Witch Project.

[tex-wyo-dem]

48. My wife and I saw it last night.

We like to go to movies later on Sunday nights to avoid the crowds and I was surprised to see the theatre at least half full (probably about 30-40 people). I was even more surpised to see, when the movie ended, nearly the entire theatre sitting in stunned silence as the credits rolled by. Even the "cowboy" and his big-haired blonde wife sitting next to us didn't move.

Excellent movie...really a must see!

It struck me during the movie how the RW in this country plays on fear to advance its agenda and needs an "enemy" in order to make this happen. Fifty years ago it was the Commies infiltrating everything, today it's the terrorists and to a lesser degree the liberal agenda destroying America.

It's an age old tactic to control those they are trying to rule...

[Yavin4]

49. John Stewart Is Today's Murrow

and that tells you a lot.

[tex-wyo-dem]

51. Actually Bill Moyers gave Jon probabaly the most fitting compliment...

that he is the modern day Mark Twain.

[wildeyed]

53. I thought the same thing after seeing the movie.

I am kind of sad that we have to look to a comedian to ask the hard questions of our leaders. But it is what it is.

[YOY]

50. Fantastic Movie

Just mindbogglingly fantastic and the current parallels are not only accurate but relevant.

[kevinbgoode]

58. It seems to be in rather limited distribution

I'm in a smaller midwestern university city, and the closest theater showing it is in St. Louis, a two hour drive for me!

[yurbud]

59. I was most shocked by the Eisenhower clip at the end--anybody know

what speech that was?

[sepia_steel]

60. YEAHHH!!

We're gonna go see it tonight!! I haven't even seen it and I can't wait for the DVD.