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| Michael Clayton | 
| Category: Movie
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  215 reviews
Sales Rank: 1520
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: Video On Demand
Running Time: 120 minutes
ASIN: B0014B8KSI
Theatrical Release Date: October 12, 2007
Release Date: August 29, 2008
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good, not great January 29, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
(this review contains some spoilers)
I went into the theater to see this movie with high expectations. I'd just read several glowing reviews that all predicted, accurately, that the movie would be nominated for several academy awards, and I was excited to see another movie starring George Clooney, who has been one of my favorite actors since I first saw him on ER. But after seeing it, I left disappointed.
This is not a bad movie, and I did enjoy it. It just didn't feel like there was enough of a plot to make a feature film--I think it would have made a great episode of Law and Order or something. To start off, the movie is anchored around cliches-- the main character is a burnout, his personal life has some problems, he works for a big corrupt company-- and then after all the fuss, he wins the fight by recording the bad guy's big speech where they admit to breaking all kinds of rules on a hidden tape recorder-- never seen that before. And on top of that, for whatever reason, a big part of the end of the movie is actually shown in the beginning, which just takes away what little surprise the explosion had in its proper context.
Overall, my biggest complaint about the movie is that it is so overhyped. Maybe it's just something I'm not getting, but I didn't think it was that great.
What we've always suspected: High-priced lawyers are the real criminals January 27, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's unlikely that Michael Clayton will ever be shown in one of Harvard Law School's required ethics-for-lawyers classes (if it has any). We learn far more about the ethical practices of high-priced Wall Street law firms and the corporate lawyers who hire them than the whole well-dressed, well-manicured and well-housed gang would want us to know. And despite the McGuffin being an obvious bit of Hollywood political correctness, and despite being too long with too many extraneous acting bits thrown in for George Clooney, the movie's star, Michael Clayton still delivers the goods as a solid legal conspiracy thriller. Except for all those bits -- Michael's relationship with his angelic son, Michael's relationship with his druggie brother, Michael's relationship with a nice gang messenger, Michael's relationship with poker and Michael's angst over not being made a partner -- the mechanics of the conspiracy and the quality of the acting carries us along. I just wish the movie had been tighter and shorter.
George Clooney as Clayton does a superior job that keeps us involved with the story. His job at his law firm has been to clean up messes. He's no miracle worker, he says, he's a janitor. Equally fine performances come from Tom Wilkinson as an attack lawyer, a partner in the law firm where Clayton works, who goes off the rails (when he goes off his meds) and, of all things, starts to help the good guys; Tilda Swinton as the murderous chief counsel for a huge chemical firm which produces an insecticide with an unfortunate side effect, cancer; and Sidney Pollack as the law firm's head, a man who knows what it takes to insure the bills are paid and that he and his lawyers get their bonuses. It's not long before Clayton finds himself up to his torts in hardball lawyering as he tries to deal with a friend who seems to be in the middle of a mental collapse. All the while he's pressured by the needs of a multi-million dollar criminal suit against that chemical company, which his firm is defending. It doesn't help when a couple of blonde assassins enter the scene.
The PC nature of the McGuffin -- killer chemicals sold by a huge industrial company -- reeks of Hollywood righteousness. For me, it was irritating. I certainly don't recommend trusting big companies any more than I'd recommend trusting high priced lawyers, but I wanted a thriller, not a lecture by rich Hollywood writers and stars. Besides, Erin Brockovich had already mined that chemical load earlier. To the movie's credit, not much time is spent with the McGuffin itself. It provides the cause of the plot, but it could have been just about anything. What helps us forget the PC nature of the McGuffin is the quality acting by Clooney, Wilkinson, Swinton and Pollack. There's not a scene in the movie that does not have at least one of them in it. Separately and together in any combination, they hook us into whatever plot development they're showing us.
The lessons I drew from Michael Clayton:
--If you're the head of a law firm, make sure your lawyers stay on their meds.
--If you're a lawyer, there are better things for your career than murdering a person's body...such as murdering the person's reputation and character. And it pays just as well.
--If you can ignore the message of the McGuffin and minimize your involvement in all the angst in Michael Clayton's life, Michael Clayton the movie is darn good.
Perhaps a bit overrated but a solid solid film January 23, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic legal film that brings to mind the works of John Grisham. The story is told in a fractured narrative style and features two fantastic performances from Clooney and Wilkenson. They are both nominated this year at the Oscars and there is a reason. Tilda Swinton is also excellent in her role as the rutheless lawyer. Overall the pacing may be a little slower than one might hope, but stick with it and you will find you have one of the very best films of 2007.
 Worst movie I have seen in years. January 23, 2008
10 out of 51 found this review helpful
These two people who rated this movie 5 star must be speaking of a different movie than the one I viewed with two friends. It was the most boring movie I have ever seen. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen which never did. I still haven't figured out exactily what a "janitor" is. As for Clooney's acting I never observed anything that would make it special. If you see this movie I think most of you will agree with me and my friends.
 Best Picture of 2007 January 22, 2008
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
This definitely should win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This was a totally outstanding story and George Clooney did an excellent job in the title role. I see at least one film a week and of the 60+ films I saw in 2007 this was the best one, hands down.
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