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Michael Clayton
Directed by: Tony Gilroy
Starring: George Clooney
Genre:
Drama
Run Time: 119
min.
Release Date:
October 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
If there was ever any doubt
that George Clooney (GOOD
NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK) is more than just a pretty face,
MICHAEL CLAYTON should put them to rest. Although women across the world
will probably still drool at his magnetism here in this film, he pulls
this engrossing movie along and carries most — if not all — of its
weight.
The story surrounds a pair of attorneys, Michael Clayton (Clooney) and
Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson,
THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE) who are
employed as “janitors” at a powerhouse law firm. The “janitor lawyers”
clean up messes left by their clients. But when Arthur (Wilkinson)
appears to have a mental break during a multimillion dollar negotiations
with a pesticide company (shades of
THE FUTURE OF FOOD documentary and
the Monsanto Corporation are easily seen), Michael is sent in to try and
clean up the debacle. But big business, along with Arthur and Michael’s
firm, are concerned and have clean-up ideas of their own. Hit men, the
burning of document warehouses, and even exploding cars are not beyond
the realm of dangers facing Mr. Clayton.
Definitely in the vein of ERIN BROKOVICH, but this film’s focus is not
on the ones represented by the attorney’s firm and, instead, on the
attorneys themselves. Morality and money are the two at-odds items,
which is also nothing new to film. But what holds Michael Clayton
together is the powerful performances by Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton (THE
CHRONICLES OF NARNIA), and, of course, Mr. Clooney. Wilkinson’s
disastrous decent into seeming madness holds a kernel of sympathy and
understanding for the viewer. His life, decade upon decade, has been
devoted to making and saving money for his firm, but at what moral cost?
Coming to the end of his career, the weight of his decisions are heavy
upon him and we can feel his dire wish to find a smidgin of good in his
final days (“I am Shiva, the god of death.”)
Tilda Swinton plays Karen Crowder, the firm’s new lead attorney for the
case abandoned by Arthur (Wilkinson). Her need to win the case
overpowers commonsense and even legalities and, in the end, gets the
better of her.
And then there’s Michael Clayton (Clooney) who sees much of himself in
Arthur, wondering if this is what awaits him at the end of his career.
But there’s also Michael’s personal life that infringes upon the entire
story loop. His son Henry (Austin Williams,
THE GOOD SHEPHERD) wants
desperately to connect with his father but both have trouble finding
common ground; Michael because of his forced amount of time on the job,
and Henry because of a fantasy life (see role playing game) that he
wants to include his father in. Michael’s old gambling habit has also
reemerged causing him many a financial woe and forcing another morality
play that bites him in the bum when asking for an advance from his boss.
The downsides to the film are that it’s pretty standard Hollywood fodder
as far as movies go, and the ending was a bit too tidy and convenient. I
never understood how Michael knew where to find Karen Crowder and when
she’d be having a meeting with “the big client”.
Even so, this is a good character story with enough good dialogue and
great acting to keep most watchers entertained. And if you’re a Clooney
fan, you can drool a bit more.
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Image from Michael Clayton
DVD cost: $27.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
The film was the only
movie at the Oscars in 2008 to receive more than one acting nomination
-- it received three.
Movie Quote: "You're
not ready to hear it."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Michael Clayton
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