The Nominees: 'Good Night...'

(CBS)  "Good Night, and Good Luck" is up for six Oscars: Best Picture (which would go to producer Grant Heslov), Best Director (George Clooney), Best Actor (David Strathairn), Best Original Screenplay (George Clooney and Grant Heslov), Art Direction (Jim Bissell for art direction and Jan Pascale for set decoration) and Cinematography (Robert Elswit).

Also starring in the movie are Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson and Jeff Daniels.

"Good Night, And Good Luck" is a recounting of former CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow's challenge to communist-hunting Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

For his stand, Murrow (Strathairn) is accused of being a communist sympathizer. But after a meeting with the CBS boss William Paley (Frank Langella), Murrow decides to fight fire with fire and report on what he believes are all the inadequacies and lies perpetrated by the McCarthy hearings.

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More from CBSNews.com on "Good Night, and Good Luck" and on the Oscars...

See interactive menu for pictures, video and other features about the movie.

See photo essay menu for more pictures of George Clooney.

See photo essay for pictures of Robert Downey Jr.

See photo essay for more pictures of David Strahairn.

Watch the theatrical trailer for "Good Night, and Good Luck."

See David Edelstein's review of the movie from CBS News Sunday Morning.

Find out about all the nominees in the Academy Awards special report.

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Asked why he chose this project, Clooney told The Early Show, "My father was an anchorman for 30 years. Murrow was a high watermark for broadcast journalists, all of them. He was a big part of my history growing up. I thought it was an interesting time to at least have the debate again about responsibilities that he held so dear."

In addition to directing and co-writing the movie, Clooney plays producer Fred Friendly.