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Good Night, and Good Luck


Not only did I get my super-awesome new haircut this weekend, but I managed to get in some good movie watching. My Netflix rental for the weekend was Good Night, and Good Luck. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this film, it is the story of how esteemed television journalist Edward R. Murrow took on Senator McCarthy and his crusade against the supposed Communists in the U.S. This film was directed and co-written by George Clooney, who also plays the role of Fred Friendly - Murrow's producer. Personally, I feel this film gives us a glimpse of what journalism should be when it is done well. Yes, Murrow took a side rather than strictly reporting both "sides" of the story, but by taking a side and reporting the facts as they were presented in the public forum - he was able to point out the inconsistencies and holes in McCarthy's bulldozing of innocent people. His team made sure to do an impeccable job of researching the facts and footage available to them - what a novel idea in today's speedy journalism of half-truths just to get the story whether it's completely factual or not. It appears to me that most journalists today subscribe to the idea that rather than asking for permission now (or making sure they get all the correct facts), they'll just seek forgiveness (and write a retraction) later. It seems to me that Mr. Murrow was a prophet as he foretold the direction that television news would end up if it continued on it's current path. Some of my favorite Edward R. Murrow quotes:

"We must not confuse dissent from disloyalty. We must remember always, that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another, we will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason. If we dig deep into our history and our doctrine, we will remember we are not descended from fearful men. Not from men who dared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular...We can deny our heritage and our history but we cannot escape responsibility for the result. There is no way for a citizen of the republic to abdicate his responsibilities. As a nation we have come into our full inheritance at a tender age. We proclaim ourselves as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom wherever it still exists in the world. But we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home." (from his television show See It Now).

"It is not necessary to remind you that the fact that your voice is amplified to the degree where it reaches from one end of the country to the other does not confer upon you greater wisdom or understanding than you possessed when your voice reached only from one end of the bar to the other. " (to the Radio & Television New Directors Association)

"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."

"The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue." (on receiving the "Family of Man" award)

"Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them."

"We cannot make good news out of bad practice."



Indiana Jones
Sunday afternoon, I took time out of my busy schedule (HA!) to watch the first three Indiana Jones movies: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade (umm...obviously it was not quite the "last crusade"). All of this was in preparation for the new Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull movie which I immersed myself in on Monday morning. My personal favorite is Last Crusade mostly because of Sean Connery's role as Indy's father. And I know a lot of people knock Temple of Doom as being the weakest Indiana movie, but I like it with all it's slithering "snake surprise" dinner and "chilled monkey brains" for dessert....hehehe...yes, I am one sick puppy :-) And, I would suggest that to keep perspective on the new Indiana film, it's good for people to revisit the first three films - that way there's no building up in your mind of the quality of the previous films. By rewatching them, I could see them for what they were - fun, cheesy, action flicks with silly gags and punny humor. None of the previous scripts were indelibly clever or riddled with amazing dialog. So as you go to watch the new film, keep that in mind. It is a fun, silly, action-filled ride...there are a few spoilers (although seriously no tightly held secrets) but in the event you haven't watched the movie yet and want to be "surprised" by the story line stop reading NOW...




I found it not surprising but quite fitting how they reveal Shia LeBeouf's character, Mutt, to be Indiana's son with Marion (from the first Indy film). Indiana and Mutt's interaction even before finding out this information is quite amusing, but afterwards it's down-right hilarious! Of course, you can guess where all of that is heading from their first meeting when Mutt reveals who his mother is. There are no true "surprises" in this film; you just have to remember to suspend all good sense and enjoy it for what it is. The lamest part of the movie comes at the very end (although still not a surprise) when the crystal skull is confirmed to be from an alien (there is a whole pack of them actually) and there's a this flying saucer type thing at the end....LAME. George Lucas should not have mixed his Star Wars sci-fi genre with the Indiana films - but well it's too late for that now...If he'd only asked me (and pretty much most Indiana Jones fans) he could have avoided that faux pas. However, despite the ridiculous alien aspect of the movie - I believe it is worth going to see on the big screen (although I would suggest a matinée so you don't feel quite so cheated). WARNING: the special effects leave something to be desired - especially considering how far technology has come in this arena. The CGI used by Speilberg (so disappointing) looks about as well done as the last Indiana Jones film, and well that was The Last Crusade made in 1989. Anyways, go enjoy it for what it is - pure entertainment.