Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

Though this film is short, it is abound with important messages galore.
It is 1953 (though the film is told mostly in flashback with Edward R. Murrow receiving his main award in 1958) and the McCarthy witchhunt is on. If you are a communist or have ever been associated with a communist, beware and hide because you will be found out.
Edward R. Murrow (an Oscar-nominated David Strathairn) is a celebrated journalist for CBS and has his own weekly talk show at night. He is also a chain-smoker (not important to the plot). He stumbles upon a case of this air force member being forced to resign because his father was associated with the communist party. Murrow attacks this and later takes on McCarthy, and McCarthy fires back. Murrow checks the facts and proves McCarthy wrong and eventually, his actions, so eloquently put, reach fruition, the Senate is investigating him but won't kick him out, they will just censure him instead.
However, this success comes at a price. Murrow is told to leave by Bill Paley (Frank Langella), the station manager. He does leave, but insists on going down swinging.
What makes the film come alive is the supporting players, including director George Clooney himself as one of Murrow's right hand men, Fred Friendly. Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey, Jr are great as a secretly married couple who must keep their marriage a secret because co-workers can't be married at the station. Jeff Daniels is another executive at the station.
A truly shocking and devastating scene is when Clarkson (Shirley) is reading reviews of the previous night's boardcast. One review praised the coverage while another wildly criticized it, bashing both Murrow and the man who follows him, Don Hollenbeck (Ray Wise). Later, Hollenbeck commits suicide over this and the newsroom is devastated as they should be. The media can be a powerful thing. 
The film utilizes actual McCarthy footage and blends it in perfectly with the film which is also filmed in black and white and completely appropriate for the time period.
In addition to the film discussing the 1950s America, it is still relevant today. How much power should the government have over its people? Is freedom really free? Grade: A-