베니스 황금 사자상

허리우드 유명인들과 경쟁에서붉은 카텟을 밟을 황금 사자상1 순위작품 중 하나인

"Good Night. And, Good Luck,"1950년 매카시 상원의원의 마녀사냥의 tv방송을

소재로한 영화기 정치적 논쟁을 불러왔다고 한다. 연기와 감독을한 그루니는 행정부나

부시정부를 공격하는 정치적인 의도가 아니라논쟁을 해보자는 의도라한다

Clooney brings politics to Venice

Friday, September 2, 2005 Posted: 1023 GMT (1823 HKT)

Clooney: "My goal isn't to go out and attack an administration, my goal is to raise a debate."

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) -- George Clooney brought political controversy to Venice with "Good Night. And, Good Luck," a black-and-white tale of broadcasting courage during the McCarthy-era witch hunts of the 1950s.

Clooney, who acts in and directs the film, is the first of several A-list Hollywood stars due to walk the red carpet at the sun-soaked Lido, host to days of waterfront parties.

The low-budget offering, well-received at a Wednesday night press screening, is the first of several keenly awaited pictures competing for the coveted Golden Lion top prize.

Hollywood's big names traditionally screen pictures in less onerous "out of competition" slots.

"Good Night. And, Good Luck", starring David Strathairn and Robert Downey Jr., tells the story of journalist Edward R. Murrow's use of television to expose the bullying tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee in their anti-communist crusade.

Clooney says the film -- seen as an attack on U.S. President George W. Bush's war on terror -- is not just about politics.

"There are no true bad guys. It is a trickier thing than that," Clooney told a press conference before the film's evening premiere. "My goal isn't to go out and attack an administration, my goal is to raise a debate."

Broadcaster Murrow, intensely portrayed by Strathairn, denounces McCarthy's persecution using the Wisconsin senator's own words. He eventually pays the price through a string of events that are as much a historical reconstruction as an unpitying assessment of the power of the media.

"TV makes or breaks policy. You could argue it elected (President John F.) Kennedy," said Clooney. "The danger is most people get their information from television. It has to be done responsibly."

"Good Night. And, Good Luck", which takes its name from Murrow's catchphrase, eschews color and uses archive footage liberally, giving the film a bare, documentary feel lightened by short jazz interludes.

Clooney, who produced the film via Section Eight, his venture with Steven Soderbergh, has said he kept the movie as realistic as possible, improvising scenes in Murrow's television newsroom to convey real-life chaos and frenetic energy.

As an added touch, Senator McCarthy is not played by an actor, but portrayed through real news clips.

"If we had used an actor, people would say we were harsh. We had to show him doing what he did," Clooney said.

The fascination with Murrow began at home for the actor-director, whose father was a news anchor with a high regard for the CBS broadcaster.

Clooney -- whose 2002 debut as director, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", met mixed reviews -- plays the role of producer Fred Friendly. Strathairn, best known for his role in "LA Confidential", was handed the title role of the chain-smoking, careworn journalist.

"I started by trying to figure out what cigarettes he used to smoke," said Strathairn, whose portrayal is moving and uncanny, despite the director's claim that they had not aimed for an impersonation.

"It was a process of listening, listening, watching, listening, reading, more and more."

"Good Night, And Good Luck" is one of several U.S. films on show that point to a less studio-oriented approach to movies, with many produced almost or fully independently.

But blockbuster fans will not be disappointed at the 62nd Venice Film Festival, with extravaganzas including Terry Gilliam's maximalist "The Brothers Grimm".

Also screening on Thursday, though out of competition, is "All the Invisible Children", a portmanteau film collating seven moving stories on the plight of children by eight directors, including Emir Kusturica, Spike Lee and Ridley Scott