At one time, people looked to the news for investigation.
They felt that everything they were told in the paper or on television was fact.
And, very often, it was.
When stories broke, peoples’ careers were broken…and possibly made.
One of the best of the bunch of these investigative reporters was Edward R Murrow. When he died on this day in 1965, the world lost an ally.
Let’s take a look at some of the best movies about reporters investigating real issues, something that is harder and harder to come by these days.
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK (2005)
Written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov / Directed by George Clooney
It may seem unfair to start the list off with a movie about the man who inspired it, but there you go. This absolutely is one of the best of this mini-genre. George Clooney’s directorial debut was rightly nominated for Best Picture in 2005.
The movie follows Murrow in his quest to bring down then reigning Senator Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy accused everyone but himself and his mother of being a Communist, but Murrow saw right through it all to the small man behind the whole debacle. David Strathairn was perfect as the venerable reporter, bringing the no-nonsense man to a level that we could all relate to.
Before this film, I didn’t know much about Murrow. Now, he’s one of my heroes.
ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN (1976)
Written by William Golman, Based on the book by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein / Directed by Alan J. Pakula
About 20 years later, two reporters took down a nearly as formidable foe.
Richard Nixon had put his “plumbers” up to bugging the Watergate hotel so that he could know what his Democratic enemies were up to. When a secret informer (Hal Holbrook) known only as “Deep Throat” came forward to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, both at the height of their powers), all hell broke loose and America was eventually freed from the reign of a paranoid man.
Alan J. Pakula’s best film told a truly American story…unfortunately.
THE INSIDER (1999)
Written by Eric Roth and Michael Mann, based on an article by Marie Brenner / Directed by Michael Mann
Again, a little over 20 years later, Michael Mann brought us the story of a whistleblower from Big Tobacco (Russell Crowe) who wanted to tell the world about all of the awful things that these companies were doing to their customers.
After going on 60 Minutes, he and his family were attacked by thugs from his former employers. Will CBS allow the story to air when they may be bought out by a company that also owns a tobacco company? The story didn’t sound very exciting, but the preview immediately said, “Oscar bait.” When I finally saw the movie, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
This is political filmmaking at its best. Not only is there political greed, but there’s corporate greed on both sides of the story. THAT, my friends, is what makes this story so compelling. A stellar cast doesn’t hurt, either: Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall…the list goes on and on.
Z (1969)
Written by Jorge Semprun with Costa-Gravas and Ben Barzma, based on a book by Vasilis Vasilikos / Directed by Costa-Gravas
Maybe a bit of a stretch since the reporter only plays a small role, but this film makes the filmmaker into the investigative reporter. (It starts with the words: Any resemblance to actual events, to persons living or dead, is not the result of chance. It is DELIBERATE.)
Based on Vasilis Vasilikos novel which was, in turn, based on an actual assassination of a Greek leftist politician, Cost-Gavras’ film caused a pretty big stir in 1969. The investigation of the murder (constantly called “the incident” by the police) unravels layer after layer of corruption from the working class men who did the actual beating to the upper echelon of the police state.
Z should be required viewing even still.
Every turn reminds a modern viewer of things that are happening today including an unhealthy distrust of educated people and one of the murderers talking about how rich people get medical care while poor people don’t, undermining his own beliefs.
Z is simultaneously of its time and ahead of its time.
It’s scary how true it really is.
THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979)
Written by Mike Gray, TS Cook and James Bridges, / Directed by James Bridges
This may also be a stretch since it’s not based on anything true.
Jane Fonda is a fluff reporter for the local news in LA. When she and her crew (including producer Michael Douglas as an idealistic cameraman) go to the local nuclear reactor to do a story about how it works, all hell nearly breaks loose. There’s an accident that no one will fess up to…but the folks in the control room (including Jack Lemmon and Wilfred Brimley) sure seem relieved when they get it under control. That’s when Jane turns into a full-fledged investigative reporter and digs up the truth, no matter how deep it’s buried.
Could LA be in danger of being melted away by this relatively new technology? Or is nuclear energy truly safe as houses? This was all science-fiction until about two weeks after the release when the reactor at Three Mile Island partially melted down. Then it all became frighteningly real.
Despite Douglas’ insistence on pronouncing “nuclear” wrong, this is one of the more frightening non-horror films of all time.
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