Micheal Clayton movie review

Director: Tony Gilroy

Writer: Tony Gilroy

Genre: Drama Thriller

Duration: 2hrs

Staring: George Clooney

Tom Wilkinson

Tilda Swinton

Sydney Pollack

Producer: Sydney Pollack

Jennifer Fox

Steve Samuels

Kerry Orent

Distributor: WARNER BROS

Rating: R for language including some

sexual dialogue

Release Date: October 12, 2007

One thought kept running in my mind as I watched this film. It is a treat to watch such fine acting. From George Clooney in the lead role as Michael Clayton to Sydney Pollack as one of his bosses, Marty Bach, everyone in this film gave a solid performance worthy of recognition. The story is not too shabby either. It's very much like Erin Brockovich but even more dramatic, if you can imagine that. It's also a lot more violent and dangerous, cold and calculated. From the onset, the opening monologue by Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), a brilliant attorney and one of Michael's co-workers, sets the intense tone of the film. The rest of the dialogue, for that matter, is just as intense and intelligent. The story is modern and will test your integrity. One of the questions this movie will make you ponder is when it comes to the law and representation, is justice really being served?

"I am Shiva, the god of death." Arthur Edens makes this claim as he confesses to Michael the reason for his recent insanities. In Erin Brockovich, Erin motivates a small time lawyer to take on a major utility in a lawsuit based on human negligence on the part of the utility. In this movie, one of the lawyers of a major law firm that represents a major company grows a conscience and decides to take on the very company that he is paid to represent. A lawyer with a conscience . . . what a rare breed. Arthur finds incriminating documentation that proves U/North's negligence for human life with one of its products. Not wanting to deal with the cost of fixing the problem with the product, U/North opts to cover it up and settle with the plaintiffs with the help of Arthur and his law firm. Unable to withstand the guilt, he storms out of a meeting proclaiming his new position on the matter. Having completely embarrassed the law firm as well as himself, Michael, the firm's "janitor", is sent to clean up the mess and get Arthur under control. Not only does Michael not succeed completely, Arthur manages to entice him into the battle of conscience. What will Michael do?

Who you represent can be just as important as obeying the law to begin with. U/North doesn't seem to care about either one. Arthur realized this and decided to do something about it. Tom Wilkinson has turned in the best performance I have ever seen him do. I would be extremely surprised if he is not nominated for the Oscar for best supporting actor. George Clooney could get a nod too. Probably his most dramatic piece to date. Sydney Pollack was keen with his role. Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder, the lead counsel for U/North, was nervous, cold, and determined to protect her job and her company. Everyone was superbly cast in this picture. The performances overshadowed any shortcomings in character development and plot originality. There is an interesting scene in the midst of this chaos where Michael pulls to the side of the road due to some random, loose horses on a hilltop. Not only is this scene symbolic and meaningful to the story, as you will see, but it also demonstrates the variety of looks to this film. As I've mentioned before, having New York as a backdrop is never a bad thing in movies.

Director Tony Gilroy is off to a phenomenal start in his directorial debut. Having been the writer for such projects as the Bourne series, Proof of Life, Armageddon, and one of my favorites, The Devil's Advocate, his talents as a writer seem to have been carried over to his directing skills. I was not very surprised to see Steven Soderbergh's name associated to this motion picture as an executive producer (he directed Erin Brockovich). As he could probably tell you, when it comes to average citizens taking on corporate criminals, it takes a lawyer with a conscience to give the citizens a fighting chance.