Michael Clayton (Full Screen Edition)
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Features
• Color
• Full Screen
• NTSC
In Theaters : 12 October, 2007
DVD Release : 19 February, 2008 |
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Michael Clayton (Full Screen Edition) description
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 |
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Michael Clayton (Full Screen Edition) Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥ |
Bark! Bark! Avoid this DOG!
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Reading through some of the other reviews, I found myself wondering, "Did I watch the same movie?"
This movie was ridiculous. Boring. Horrific Editing. Predictable. Boring. Stereotypical. Boring. One-dimensional characters.
Oh, and it's boring.
WARNING: SPOILERS!
Horrible editing. I've seen better edited movies on Youtube.
Apparently, huge chunks of the movie vital to the plot were mistakenly left on the floor of the editing room. WHY did Michael Clayton get out of his car to go look at some horses? Why?!? This pivotal point in the movie made absolutely no sense. It was certainly not in-line with his character, who should have asked, "Horses? What horses?" as he drove by at high speeds in his Mercedes Benz.
That scene made absolutely no sense.
Another annoying editing process was that people would just randomly pop up in this movie. I have some experience in forensics/legal world (I've been an expert witness on several occasions), and I was hard pressed to know either: (1) who these people in the room were; or (2) what was going on. My wife (who has no legal experience, but loves legal thrillers in both book and movie formats) was completely lost at times.
And what about the subplot with Clayton's son and his fantasy book? That thread at least looked like it had some promise, but again, the editing dropped that subplot like a ton of bricks (Yeah, there was a highlighted book in Arthur's apartment, but SO much more could have been done with that book ...)
As for the actors/actresses ...
George Clooney continues to play George Clooney. The child actor who played his son acted circles around him. Clooney's character is a vile person who has little to no ability to relate emotionally to his son (notice he never actually touches his son except in one scene ... to basically push him out of some relatives' house). I had little sympathy for Michael Clayton by movie's end.
Tom Wilkinson (who I think is a wonderful actor ... very under-rated) did the best he could with the garbage script he was given. As a mental health professional, it continues to gall me that mental illness is continued to be portrayed in such a medieval mindset.
Tilda Swinton's role wasted a very good actress. Her character made no sense, unless the script-writer was trying to portray a schizophrenic barracuda with anxiety issues. She is "hard" enough to order two assisinations, but then falls to pieces when confronted by Michael at the end. Her character was a throwback to sexist portrayals of women from the 40's and 50's ... only done with less aestheic appeal.
I could keep writing my objections, but I've wasted enough time with this junk.
Do yourself a favor. Skip this movie.
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Michael Clayton (Full Screen Edition) dvd movie.