My goal is just to raise a debate 
Who remembers Batman & Robin now, eh? Back in 1997, it looked mighty like TV heartthrob George Clooney had royally scuppered his - not to mention the caped crusader's - chances at Hollywood glory. But then came Out Of Sight, O Brother Where Art Thou and, most importantly, Section Eight, the production company which convinced Hollywood that Clooney wasn't just a pretty face after all. In the latest project from his and pal Steven Soderbergh's outfit, Clooney directs, writes and stars in a smart black-and-white insight into reporter Edward R Murrow's daring exposé of Senator Joseph McCarthy's 50s Communist witch hunts. And yes, you guessed it folks, Hollywood's newest political voice ain't afraid of causing a bit of trouble...
Good Night, And Good Luck. started as a tribute to your father, didn't it?
Yes. It started simply as a tribute to my father. His hero was Edward R. Murrow, my hero is my father; he's the guy who sticks his neck out, when it's hard to stick your neck out, and I like that. So that's why we did it.
Your first directorial film, Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, also focused on this 50s Golden Age of television. What's your obsession with television?
It's what I know. It's what I grew up around. Television was my babysitter; my father worked in a newsroom and my mother had an access television show. So from the age of four years old, they'd just bring us and we'd hang out at the TV station. I was operating cue cards for guys when I was seven years old. I was teleprompting for my dad when I was 11 years old, for a summer job.
What's your take on people saying you've gone political in your recent films? You've been recently vilified by the right in the US press for it?
I didn't make this film as a protest against any administration. I made this film as an historical reference, because I grew up as a fan of Murrow, and of his speeches and of the time, and if you find relevance in that, then I'm pleased, but my goal isn't to go out and attack any administration. My goal is just to raise a debate.
It makes a change from doing an Ocean's 11 or Batman & Robin...
I don't think there's anything wrong with an Ocean's 11. I think they're fun, they're fun to do, and I'd never knock them. Usually, you get a job and you take it. So, if you get in a position where you can green light a movie and get it made, then you have a responsibility to try and do the things that matter to you.
When you do a film like this, or Three Kings or Syriana, they're fun because they open up a debate, and it is fun to be caught up in the middle of one. The Patriot Act - for example - it's an interesting time to be talking about civil liberties and whether fear should be used to take away certain civil liberties. For me as an artist, if people want to talk about it, it's great. And, by the way, I think Batman & Robin was very important for the political structure of the country at the time.
Since the Murrow/McCarthy incident, television has been intrinsic to politics. How far do you see its influence?
Television has had a huge role since, because it's where most people get their information. If you look at Walter Cronkite going to Vietnam and coming back, then having an instant impact - television makes or break policy. You could argue that it elected Kennedy. So it has a lot to do with our government and the structure of our society now, as it's the main source of where we get our information. It's a dangerous thing that Murrow warned us about in 1958, that if it's not done responsible, then there are dangers involved.
As well as Syriana, you're got two other politically engaging films to come...
We're also doing The Good German about post-war occupation and how badly you can mess it up, and then I'm doing a film [Michael Clayton], about how a certain car company lied about one of their products and didn't recall 22 million of them because it would cost more money than letting 500 people a year die. So that's going to get me into a lot of trouble too. We're on a roll, so why not do them now.
Good Night, And Good Luck. is released in UK cinemas on Friday 17th February 2006.
