Michael Clayton (Widescreen Edition)
Attorney Michael Clayton is a "fixer," the go-to guy when his powerful New York law firm wants a mess swept under the rug. But now he?s handed a crisis even he may not be able to fix. The firm?s top litigator in a $3-billion case has gone from advocate to whistleblower. And the more Michael tries to undo the damage, the more he?s up against forces that put corporate survival over human life ? including Michael?s. George Clooney portrays Michael, backed into a career corner that offers little room to fight free in this suspense- and star-packed thriller written and directed by Tony Gilroy (writer/co-writer of the Bourne movie trilogy). Keep your eyes on Michael Clayton. He has some life-or- death decisions to make. Fast.
George Clooney's performance drives this tense corporate thriller from Bourne trilogy screenwriter James Gilroy, who makes his directorial debut here. Clooney is the eponymous "hero," a burnt-out lawyer who cleans up legal messes created by the clients of a large law firm. When a crisis materializes in the form of the firm's top shark (Tom Wilkinson) suffering an apparent meltdown while defending a shady chemical company from lawsuits, Clayton discovers not only a cover-up to deny payments to farmers injured by the company's products, but a chance to find some purpose in the face of his life's downward. Clooney (who also co-produced the film) brings soul and quiet determination to his beleaguered character, and there's excellent support from Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack (also a co-producer), and Michael O'Keefe; Gilroy's script also does a solid job of stacking the deck against Clayton as he attempts to ferret out the truth behind the cover-up. Unfortunately, the film settles for a pat conclusion that, while emotionally satisfying, feels forced and delivers an overly simplistic message (corporations can be bad; morally questionable work can make one feel dirty). And Tilda Swinton is wasted in a thankless role as the chemical company's nerve-wracked and unsympathetic legal counsel. Still, Clooney fans will appreciate this fine addition to his growing roster of flawed heroes. -- Paul Gaita
Michael Clayton (Widescreen Edition) Accessories
 American Gangster (2-Disc Unrated Extended Edition)
No Country for Old Men
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gone Baby Gone
In the Valley of Elah
The Brave One (Widescreen Edition)
There Will Be Blood
Atonement (Widescreen Edition)
We Own the Night
Charlie Wilson's War (Widescreen)
Michael Clayton (Widescreen Edition) Reviews
I didn't find anything about this movie either thrilling or suspenseful. She lied. Clooney does turn in an average performance, but the movie is dull regardless. The ending was a little too pact and yet again in a George Clooney movie ( ex. I gave up on this movie the first time, but then a friend told me that I needed to stay with it because it got better. 2.5 stars. Syriana) I never come to care about the characters. Well, maybe poor Arthur.
Overall, I think it was better than No Country for Old Men, which won the Best Picture Oscar. They're certainly both great movies, but at the end of the day, Michael Clayton felt more complete. Tilda Swinton was good. It's a film that gets better the more you think about it; one further realizes how intentional every frame is. I've enjoyed many of Tony Gilroy's films, but I may have to actually watch The Cutting Edge now. They're different means of storytelling, and they're not always as compatible as producers seems to think. It's subtle and seems subdued until the last ten minutes, when all the details and images come together seamlessly. Rent it when you're in the mood for an intellectual thriller.
Tom Wilkinson was amazing. Sydney Pollock was great. I'm quite curious about the one film that doesn't fit with the rest of his resume. Buy it when you realize it hasn't left your head for days. Dialogue is often minimal, and the viewer is forced to pay attention. The story is told in the details, and I thought I was missing things at first.
Watch repeatedly. The film is deliciously dense. It's so clearly a film written to be a film; it treasures the visual medium. George Clooney was good. I'm incredibly partial to movies written to be movies rather than those adapted from books.
The film is generally well-acted, though you may wonder why the rather hammy Tom Wilkinson drops into an Irish brogue in his big dramatic scene. As for the legal background, writer-director James Gilroy didn't even begin to do his homework. The less you know about civil litigation, the better you'll like Michael Clayton. If you wonder why Clooney goes over toward the horses, that's the director's homage to a much better film, The Asphalt Jungle, which is as taut and believable as this film isn't.
Only in Hollywood. Bring in someone who didn't make partner. The tricky and very arty opening adds little to the film except unnecessary confusion. George Clooney proves that he can carry a movie; having seen him only in the Ocean's series, I'd thought he was George Hamilton without the tan. Wilkinson's contacts with the plaintiff are as unethical as the evil corporation's withholding of the key document.
Furthermore, when a lawyer begins to have a breakdown during a big case, the firm would bring in a more senior and more experienced partner. Sydney Pollack is quite believable as the managing partner. By the way, the plaintiff would have requested all reports made about the product (duh)., and all Wilkinson had to do was send a copy to opposing counsel, as he would ethically be required to do.
In the end, the movie becomes another rehashing of The Insider. Of course their was the divorced dad angle too for more contrived emotional push. I found Pollack's lawyer especially sharply drawn and convincing. The film does have a strong feel and Clooney gives a solid performance. The screenwriter tried to create the typical conflicted sub-plot of the protagonist's battle with his professional/moral obligations and his personal struggles, etc, however this was not highly nuanced. The one liners that are stirring in the trailers turn out be banal in the context of the plot, which turns into a simple-minded rampage of a corporation hell-bent on eliminating all whistle-blowers. As for the attorney who "sees the light", although strongly performed by Wilkinson, his self-revelation becomes cliched scene-by-scene.
Now onto the movie.I will admit I sat down to watch this and figured it was gonna be slow, however its a good paced slow. The sound is only 5.1 DD, this was a bit disappointing, but got the job done nonetheless. First off let me start by saying this movie is not for people who only want action, explosions, and shootouts. I wont give away any spoilers, since they are the best part of this movie. Clear highs, great voice depth, and deep lows when needed.I cant complain to much.
I enjoyed the characters, and George Clooney did an excellent job. All in all id say this one is definitely worth checking out, you wont be disappointed. Ill start off with the BD details: The picture is excellent on this film, its smooth and the skin tones have a nice color and smooth texture, the outdoor scenes are very crisp.I was impressed with the picture. I found myself enjoying the "thinking" throughout the entire movie, who did this, whats going on with that, it made for a very good experience. His position at a huge law firm requires him to be serious and quick on his toes.George does this perfectly and really convinced me. I was a bit skeptical about this movie when I first heard about it, but I finally got around to picking it up on Blu Ray.
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