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Movies / On DVD / Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton

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Michael Clayton (2007)

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Reviews Counted:189

Fresh:170

Rotten:19

Average Rating:7.6/10

Consensus: Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

Rated: 15

Runtime: 2 hrs

Genre: Law/Lawyers, Thriller, Mental Illness, Divorce, Theatrical Release

Theatrical Release:28-09-2007

Synopsis: Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is what is known in the legal world as a "fixer," or in the character's own pejorative version, a "janitor" who cleans up legal messes for VIPs and corporations on... Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is what is known in the legal world as a "fixer," or in the character's own pejorative version, a "janitor" who cleans up legal messes for VIPs and corporations on behalf of a prestigious New York City law firm. A former litigator, Clayton has found a niche that capitalizes on his legal acumen and shrewd people skills, and yet, after 13 years on the job, finds himself increasingly disgusted with his clientele. The film covers four pivotal days of his life, in which a midlife crisis and a crisis of conscience neatly converge when he is called in to "fix" a situation unfolding in one of his firm's hottest cases. Brilliant lawyer Arthur Edens (another powerhouse performance by Tom Wilkinson), representing a huge agro-chemical corporation being hit by a class action suit, has a bipolar breakdown, compounded by guilt over his defense of a company that is probably in the wrong, but is wealthy enough to buy its innocence either way. The company's CEO (Tilda Swinton) will stop at nothing to keep Edens from sinking the case. Clayton must decide how much of Edens's mad rebellion against the company is sheer mental illness, how much is true, and how much it will cost him to do the right thing. Clooney delivers a rich performance as a hangdog and haunted man who wants to stay on the side of good, but is a little too skilled at moral margin-walking to make that an easy choice in every situation. Swinton glows as a secretly frail Amazon who somehow won't let a tortured conscience prevent her from getting ahead. The final third of the film is as suspenseful as any courtroom drama, without ever resorting to legal-thriller cliches. [More]

Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack

Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack

Director: Tony Gilroy

Director: Tony Gilroy
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Producer: Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox, Steve Samuels, Kerry Orent
Composer: James Newton Howard
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Reviews for Michael Clayton

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61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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In some scenes, Clayton is the kick in the pants the whodunit genre desperately needs

Full Review Source: Modern Fabulousity | comment Comment
10/16/07
Gabriel Shanks
Gabriel Shanks
Modern Fabulousity

The multiplex needs more movies where life, work, morality, and debt comprise the constellation of adult experience, unimpinged upon by concessions to youth audiences and unameliorated by any whiff of romance.

Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
10/16/07
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks

Erin Brockovich (2000) meets A Civil Action (1998), but featuring a flawed hero with blood on his hands and an ace up his sleeve.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
10/15/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

Audiences, beware you will be drawn in by Clayton and will be wondering days later why films are not all this good?

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
10/14/07
Vince Koehler
Vince Koehler
Entertainment Spectrum

The dialogue may crackle, but the characters are standard-issue.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
10/14/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

What elevates it above the depressingly familiar storyline are the performances.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
10/14/07
Pete Vonder Haar
Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat

This is a tense thriller even if the basic plot turns out to be a little overly familiar.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
10/14/07
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Although we've seen many films about high-profile law firms versus the average Joe, watching Michael Clayton becomes more compelling every minute.

Full Review Source: ReviewExpress.com | comment Comment
10/14/07
Diana Saenger
Diana Saenger
ReviewExpress.com

Confident in the story's power and the moviegoers' intelligence, Gilroy uses only one explosion to own our rapt attention.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
10/13/07
Lisa Kennedy
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post

Filled with wonderfully conflicted characters, Michael Clayton is a masterful legal thriller that never misses a beat. A true diamond in the rough.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
10/13/07
Kit Bowen
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com

Tasty mix of crowd-pleasing action and whip-smart storytelling.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
10/13/07
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

A throwback to trim, intelligent moral thrillers like The Verdict and Absence of Malice.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
10/13/07
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Shot and edited well, featuring a large, talented cast, Michael Clayton should provide entertainment

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
10/13/07
Janos Gereben
Janos Gereben
Entertainment Insiders

This gripping jigsaw puzzle of a movie about ethics jump-starts our pulses, luring us into the world of corporate lawyers, big business and how the dirt gets swept away

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/13/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

It barrels through its formulaic story and clichéd elements with its outstanding cast leading the way.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
10/12/07
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

...a good last scene can redeem a lot of tedium, and [writer-director Tony] Gilroy provides a doozy...

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
10/12/07
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

The film is stealthy, like its characters; it creeps up on you.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
10/12/07
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Michael Clayton is -- hands-down, no-question, make-your-toes-curl-with-a-creative-crush -- the absolute best, most surprising, most devastating performance Clooney has given us yet.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
10/12/07
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Gilroy has crafted a smart thriller that revolves around a corporate cover-up but doesn't burrow into hair-splitting details and stays away from cliché.

Full Review Source: Scene-Stealers.com | comment Comment
10/12/07
Eric Melin
Eric Melin
Scene-Stealers.com

There's too much drag time in the beginning to say that this movie lives up to all the hype it's getting, but it is still worth going to see.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
10/12/07
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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Latest News for Michael Clayton

May 11, 2009: RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
One of the most diverse and celebrated talents of her generation, the directors on Tilda Swinton's CV represent a veritable who's who of independent cinema and include David... More...

May 27, 2008: Sydney Pollack: A Retrospective
With two Oscar wins and plenty more nominations under his belt, Sydney Pollack was a filmmaker that Hollywood admired. He was also a proven actor's director whose fruitful... More...

May 26, 2008: Sydney Pollack dies aged 73
Academy Award-winning director, producer and actor, Sydney Pollack, dies aged 73. More...

April 11, 2008: Script Review: Tony Gilroy's Duplicity Opens in new window
Tony Gilroy's follow-up to Michael Clayton -- the Clive Owen/Julia Roberts-led Duplicity -- is filming now, and Latino Review is offering a review of the script. More...

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