Impulse

"Good Night and Good Luck", the movie chronicling Edward R. Murrow's fight against Senator McCarthy, is tearing up the box offices. I saw it at a little theater by my house on a Wednesday night - usually a dead night for cinema attendance - and the theater was completely packed. I saw how entranced people were during the movie, and listened to them rave afterwards. They loved it. I loved it. Yet, how is it that a script which is almost entirely made up of transcriptions from 50 year old TV broadcasts have such an impact on people?

The movie is good in several ways: the cinematography is luscious, the acting is spot-on from the lead to every minor part, and Clooney's camera placement and movement add emotional weight to each scene. There's no doubt that these elements are powerful, but they can't move audiences alone. It's the script that drives this movie - a script primarily written by Murrow & McCarthy in the 50's. I think what people react to most are the words of Murrow and his action of standing up against what he thought was wrong. It is the triumph of righteousness and integrity over self-righteousness and self-interest.
I love turning around during a movie to watch the audience's reactions. It's the budding filmmaker in me. I checked on the audience during a few of Murrow's broadcasts during the movie: People literally leaned forwards in their seats, eyes fixed, and a few times, mouths agape. They nodded their heads to the points being made. It was almost like cult leaders listening to a sermon. I even heard an "Amen".
Yet, Murrow's words were hardly preachy. They were strikingly matter of fact: here's what we know, here's some footage, here's our clearly labeled opinion, we leave you to form your own opinion, and we may be wrong. So much of this is refreshing. He simply presents the facts without a whirlwind of spin. He treats the viewer with enough dignity and intelligence to allow them to form their own opinion. My personal favorite, He admits that he could be wrong. (When's the last time you heard someone say, "I'm willing to be wrong"? The next time you're in an argument, try it - the impact is amazing). It's all respect, honor, and integrity - three things which are completely gone from the government and popular culture nowadays. Their vacancy has created a need that Murrow's speeches satisfy.
Murrow's actions speak loudly as well. He stood up to the most powerful man in the country because he thought it was the right thing to do. A man of ideals and a man of action. How wonderful it feels to experience someone taking a stand for what they believe is right, and sticking to it despite all costs. This is one of the reasons I love West Wing season 1: it's the story of people trying desperately to make the country better.
To be fair, there are a lot of conservative folks who are trying to make a stand for what they believe is right. I have great respect for them. Their disadvantage is that a bunch of self-interested, power-mongers latched on to those beliefs as a tool to advance their own interests and power. Their corruption in time will bring down the movement for which those few righteous people worked. Or so anyone who sees this movie probably hopes: that excesses of corruption will be brought down.
It truly would be a great demonstration of functioning democracy if the corruption could be reigned in. Corruption is hard to stop as Russia, Italy, and well, almost everywhere else show. I'm realistic; there will always be corruption. But, it'd be nice to get rid of government for Halliburton, by Halliburton, and put people back in the equation. Still, if we could do it, wouldn't that be a clearer message to the world that America's flavor of democracy works than any pre-emptive invasion?
I think that's why "Good Night, Good Luck" is making such a splash. We need another hero. We need a demonstration in our culture that honor, integrity, and respect are not just good ideas, but, when exercised, bring about a better world. Heroes lead people by example to better themselves and their world. In this film, Murrow is that hero.
Who, today, will take up that role?