George Clooney headlines this legal thriller about an in-house "fixer" at law firm in New York who must face his biggest test to date.
"Michael Clayton" is a, in several ways, slightly old-fashioned movie made for today"s world. Nevertheless, it seems relevant, is a pleasure to watch and, I believe, one of the better (socially and cinematically) films of the last few years. It is the personal story of Michael Clayton (George Clooney), a shady lawyer; and a public story of big business, the ravages of capitalism and... shady lawyers. This is, in itself, nothing new. There have been a plethora of films on corrupt corporations recently and in our more distant pasts, and lawyers often have played roles in them. But the manner in which the characters are performed and revealed to the audience, bit by bit in their interactions with others (a bit like real life!), is refreshing in the often patronising worlds of Hollywood and American "independent" cinema. Intelligently written and acted characters are, I think, THE feature that makes "Michael Clayton" so compelling. The fact that, despite its moral centre, it is not preachy helps too. Although the weary lawyer"s journey to self-discovery in a dirty world is not new ground for cinema, when done like it is here, it is firm ground. The second thing that I liked about this film was the visual style. It had flair, particularly a Tarkovsky-like epiphany near the beginning, but not so much that it overwhelms or detracts from the nuanced performances the film features. Neither was it boring to look at. And the editing mostly disappears as performances and narratives flow from the screen. Basically, all other elements of the film serve its characters, performances, raw-materials, which are allowed to speak volumes. In this manner, "Michael Clayton"s" social heart is felt emotionally as well as intellectually, rather than rhetorically, the products of a good story told well. Compelling, intelligent... recommended.
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Thriller set in the murky world of corporate law. 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 his employer's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack), to whom Clayton feels a deep loyalty. He arranges top-flight legal services and skirts through loopholes for their ethically questionable clients. Though burned out, disillusioned and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his messy private life has left him inextricably tied to the firm. Meanwhile, litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) finds her entire company's future hinging on the outcome of a multi-billion dollar settlement overseen by Clayton's friend, star lawyer Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson). When Edens snaps and decides to blow the whistle on the questionable case, sabotaging the defence, Clayton finds himself in the centre of a conspiratorial maelstrom where he must decide between his loyalty and his conscience.
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. Nominated for 7 Oscars 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. Actors George Clooney, Sean Cullen, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Ken Howard, Denis O'Hare, Robert Prescott, Austin Williams, Merritt Wever & David Lansbury Director Tony Gilroy Certificate 15 years and over Year 2007 Screen Widescreen Languages English - Dolby Digital (5.1) Duration 1 hour and 59 minutes (approx)
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