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Michael Clayton
George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael O'Keefe, Sydney Pollack
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). Though burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt have left Clayton inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class action suit that Clayton's firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach's brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life. - imdb
http://michaelclayton.warnerbros.com/
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I can say without any reservation whatsoever that this was money extremely well spent, one of the very few times this year.
Michael Clayton is a drama from the same shelf as The Rainmaker and Erin Brockovich and while arguably not of the same calibre, it is a worthy legal drama work if only because we haven't had one for a while.
The pace is slow, but never stagnant. There is a subdued yet solid rhythm and it is observed throughout the film. The characters, likewise, never breach a narrow channel of expression, thus succeeding in keeping audiences completely committed, rather than being pulled in and out of attentiveness like in some other low-loud-low undecided productions.
Even with a strong supporting cast, Clooney is by far the dominant character throughout. This type of low key yet powerful role is his true calling and he wears the role of Michael Clayton like a beautifully tailored tuxedo.
There may be some who are close to or involved in the legal profession who may see some inconsistencies in this film from the real world and may let those inconsistencies dilute or negate what would otherwise have been an enjoyable experience. For the rest of those going to see this work of realistic fiction, I'd wager that you will leave quite satiated.
A very solid four stars. I will be going for a second viewing next week.
aside: On a personal level, Arthur's character reminded me of an old acquaintance, an excellent lawyer (one of the best locally) who, after decades of pulling rabbits out of the hat and serious crooks out of serious trouble, one day simply walked away from his practice and checked himself into a monastery, where he resides to this day, to the best of my knowledge.
George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael O'Keefe, Sydney Pollack
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). Though burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt have left Clayton inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class action suit that Clayton's firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach's brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life. - imdb
http://michaelclayton.warnerbros.com/
=======================================================
I can say without any reservation whatsoever that this was money extremely well spent, one of the very few times this year.
Michael Clayton is a drama from the same shelf as The Rainmaker and Erin Brockovich and while arguably not of the same calibre, it is a worthy legal drama work if only because we haven't had one for a while.
The pace is slow, but never stagnant. There is a subdued yet solid rhythm and it is observed throughout the film. The characters, likewise, never breach a narrow channel of expression, thus succeeding in keeping audiences completely committed, rather than being pulled in and out of attentiveness like in some other low-loud-low undecided productions.
Even with a strong supporting cast, Clooney is by far the dominant character throughout. This type of low key yet powerful role is his true calling and he wears the role of Michael Clayton like a beautifully tailored tuxedo.
There may be some who are close to or involved in the legal profession who may see some inconsistencies in this film from the real world and may let those inconsistencies dilute or negate what would otherwise have been an enjoyable experience. For the rest of those going to see this work of realistic fiction, I'd wager that you will leave quite satiated.
A very solid four stars. I will be going for a second viewing next week.
aside: On a personal level, Arthur's character reminded me of an old acquaintance, an excellent lawyer (one of the best locally) who, after decades of pulling rabbits out of the hat and serious crooks out of serious trouble, one day simply walked away from his practice and checked himself into a monastery, where he resides to this day, to the best of my knowledge.
