Rayburn GNGL - Prompt #1

This movie is largely driven by dialogue, and so Clooney, in order to keep the interest of the modern American viewer, had to get creative with his use of camera work. I found that many of the elements he used subconsciously piqued my interest in the things Murrow said:

• For one, the use of black and white was a way to emphasize the dialogue. Without color, which can so easily become a distraction, the brain has less elements to process, so, more availability for the words to really be heard.

• Secondly, the shots typically were split between two main speakers. For instance, when McCarthy is televising his reply to CBS, the camera keeps both Murrow and McCarthy in the shot, focusing slowly back and forth between the two (see image). Even when McCarthy is not in focus, you find yourself staring at his blurred figure, wanting to see the face behind the words.

• Also, despite the movie being exclusively indoors, Clooney uses camera work that pans from one speaker to another in moments of high-stress or overlapping dialogue, giving the scene a feeling of motion, almost mimicking an action movie.

• Lastly, you find yourself listening so intently to Murrow because you are simultaneously watching people listen to Murrow. Every so often, during Murrow's particularly long monologues, the camera will show studio workers behind the booth staring intently at Murrow's face, soaking in every word he says. They are captivated by him, and so is the audience because of it. Not to mention David Strathairn's portrayal of Murrow is spot-on, down to every nuance, and if you don't always hear what he says, you can still marvel at the way he says it.

All of these elements took a potentially boring movie and made it into a captivating one. A movie that incites thought and reflection on our world today, and maybe causes a little more appreciation for the way the news used to be.