Critics are nearly unanimous in their praise for this film, which celebrates the work and the spirit of legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow. The film does capture Murrow at the height of his powers during a golden age in network news. At great personal risk, Murrow and fellow newsman Fred Friendly challenged the tyranny of Senator Joe McCarthy in the name of free speech and freedom of conscience. Ably directed by George Clooney and filled with strong acting performances, Good Night, and Good Luck perfectly captures the spirit of the time and the tension that permeates every scene like so much lingering cigarette smoke.

But I never quite bought it. There was the whole courage in the face of tyranny thing, which was inspirational enough, but underlaying the entire movie was a smug nostalgia. They don't make 'em like E.R. Murrow anymore! Yeah that's true; as hard as he tries, Keith Olbermann will never measure up.

But this is not 1953, either. Today, instead of Murrow, we have John Stewart. In today's day and age, Murrow would come across as a crank. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. CBS boss Bill Paley knew it: even as Murrow was dusting off McCarthy, CBS was cutting back on his show and moving it to Sunday.

So: a solid, well-made, entertaining film. A bit heavy on the moralizing, but a worthy study of one man courageously standing up to challenge the powers that be.