Michael ClaytonMovie Reviews

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• So-so
  Written October 13, 2007

  Michael Clayton

  by Daydream

  George Clooney is as charismatic as ever in the role of Michael Clayton. In plain words he is a legal firm's "fixer-upper", playing a role similar to that of Aaron Eckart in Thank You For Smoking (although not funny). This movie is made out to be very serious almost like an actual class-action lawsuit. The case begins to build on itself, continues to build and then eventually comes to a conclusion. The movie dragged on trying to "build the case" and finally came to in the final 30 minutes of the film. Slow movie with a good ending...

  • 55 out of 56 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written October 11, 2007

  Loved the film - a classic thriller

  by dreyno9999

  Having worked in the legal profession many years it is hard to imagine that this film can take something that on the surface is so boring and make it into a suspenseful thriller that is not only exciting but plausible. This is a lean film with purposeful moments. Well crafted, well acted and the kind of film that reminds me of why I go to the movies. Bravo !!!!

  • 10 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written February 1, 2008

  Well Done

  by MaureenMurnane

  Intelligent script and an interesting novel story kept me intrigued throughout the movie. Very well acted. I can't remember when I've seen a movie that succeeded so well on the fundamentals without using gratuitous sex to prop up interest. Well Done.

  • 8 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written March 10, 2008

  Michael Clayton

  by redwoodstreet

  I really liked this movie. It's intelligent and full of suspense.

  • 15 out of 24 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written January 13, 2008

  Michael Clayton

  by carrera178411

  George Clooney gave the best performance of his career. Tom Wilkinson is brilliant as well. Sidney Pollack and George Clooney perform a killer act working together. The plot is full of twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It might be a bit long, but definitely worth the effort. Highly recommend.

  • 10 out of 15 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written March 24, 2008

  a very smart film.

  by rosettamarie

  What I love about Michael Clayton is that I didn't completely understand every detail, but I still "got it". I began watching this movie knowing that I do not like its genre; there is much on the side of legal situations that I simply do not comprehend. However, what is so gripping about this very smart thriller is its analysis of both insanity and reality. The screenplay is centered on its words, as opposed to action, and thus conveys much more than the average legal/crime thriller. George Clooney is excellent as always, and the final scene, superimposed by credits, provides a thought-provoking end.
  
  My only complaint regards Tilda Swinton's Oscar win because I found that Tom Wilkinson was much more deserving of a win in his category. I do understand the "silent evil" that Tilda presents in her character, but I think it was a rather forgettable performance. Wilkinson's, on the other hand, was haunting and really establishes the true essence of the film.

  • 23 out of 41 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written October 13, 2007

  If you have any doubts about lawyers being scum, watch this film.

  by MakubaJack

  Those without sight we call "blind".
  Those without hearing we call "deaf".
  Those without speech we call "mute".
  
  Those without a conscience we call "attorneys".
  
  Lawyers are nothing more than conscienceless mercenaries of greed, and this fine film makes that point rather adroitly. Every blue moon there's a story about an attorney that was actually born with a conscience- that's what this film is about.
  
  

  • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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• So-so
  Written November 4, 2007

  Well-Done, Interesting and SLOW

  by IrvThal

  Most "modern" audiences won't be able to sit through "Michael Clayton," which plays out like a take-your-time thriller from the 1970s. That's exactly the right tone, but it's so far from what today's audiences are used to, they'll have difficulty following the complicated story. This is a slow, leisurely paced movie, though it does build tension and interest throughout. As a thriller, it's a relatively decent legal drama, something that might play out on one of the better episodes of "Law & Order," but certainly not anything we haven't seen before. Where "Michael Clayton" SHOULD excel is its central character -- though Michael Clayton himself remains a bit of a cypher. His domestic troubles might SEEM to add something to his character, but they really don't. He's just not a particularly interesting guy, nor are his yuppie concerns easy to identify with. The internal revelation that should shake both him and the audience isn't all that compelling. Good ... but why all the fuss?

  • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written February 2, 2008

  Listen to those around you and to that other voice inside your head, and you just might make a difference in this world.

  by Haplo

  ... seems to be one of the many morals of this complex and exciting psychological legal thriller.Edited brilliantly,this movie starts off strangely but is so well written that it keeps you grounded with gritty realism of corporate greed,litigious amorality and dysfunctional family matters.George Clooney's performance is strong as a lawyer/ trouble shooter for his firm and aptly portrays a man struggling with choices made,both personally and professionally.His best scene is a short monologue where he tells his son how tough he feels his son is.Tilda Swinton's performance as a corporate big wig hell bent on and wrestling with success, with an array of insecurities gone horribly wrong, is carefully great to watch.Tom Wilkinson's role is excitingly dramatic as a lawyer experiencing a guilt ridden mental breakdown with hints of a latter mid-life crisis.The directing is simple and superb and along with the editing,keeps you on the edge of your seat.It is is one of the best films of the year!

  • 8 out of 12 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written October 20, 2007

  Husband's turn to choose movie

  by wayfun

  So, thought I'd just support my husbands choice for a movie and made a decision to like it, even before we arrived.
  
  An extraordinary film. In all ways. The cinematography was breathtaking, the character development was meticulous, yet subtle. A level of tension was kept at a medium to high level pretty much throughout the entire film, which made the attention required to follow the smart and sophisticated story line seem effortless.
  
  An academy award performance was created by George Clooney. The last scene, was genius. Clooney's speechless performance, at the very end, as a few primary credits rolled, quietly and with little adieu, along the right side of the screen is not to be missed.
  
  A film goers little slice of artistic heaven. Don't miss it.

  • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written October 7, 2007

  Heaven Can Wait

  by Daggnabbit

  Michael Clayton is the story of one man forced to redemption against the backdrop of corporate misdeeds and societal complacency. Gorgeous George Clooney drops his sheen and uses his Golden Boy standing to help us immediately understand the shadowy nuance of Michael Clayton's role as a "fixer" for a law firm that is representing one of the nations largest agri-conglomerates. Tilda Swinton is amazing as an all too human Beelzebub to Clayton's world weary Pan. We've seen this story before but in our culture of excess and the national psyche of going along to get along the film asks us to wake up before we lose the only thing of real value that we have left to hold on to. For the soulless Masters of the Universe who populate Clayton's world (a world ripped from our healines and blogs) it may be too late.

  • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written February 1, 2008

  Michael Clayton

  by jansue

  Never a dull moment. Fine acting all around. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

  • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written October 13, 2007

  Michael Clayton

  by Sherl

  Although I had trouble keeping up, I enjoyed this movie. It held my attention and made me think. George Clooney is at his best -- he's serious (no smirk on his face), somber and interesting to watch. This movie proves that you can produce a good movie without resorting to mucho violence, gunplay and explosives. Instead, the characters and plot are focal points.

  • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written October 18, 2007

  Michael Clayton

  by littlemoviemogul

  George Clooney is not the star of this movie -- Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder, is. It is impossible to watch this movie and not have a physical reaction to the dilemma and horror that Swinton's character portrays. She must be nominated for best supporting actress.
  
  What I've learned from watching George Clooney in movies is that he's not trying to be the star. He wants a story to be told, and he's good at getting great actors to tell the story with him.
  
  The movie is quite enjoyable. It's slow moving and intense. If you're looking for quick action, this movie is not for you. You're required to do some thinking. The movie, in a subtle way, brings one loser after another before you for viewing -- Micahel Clayton being the biggest loser of them all.
  
  The footage is beautiful -- seeing NY on screen is always wonderful. The music is seductive and adds to the intensity of the movie.
  
  Finally, this is not a popcorn, soda sucking movie. You need to be all eyes.

  • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written October 10, 2007

  Michael Clayton

  by delilah333

  Excellent - well directed. Crisp and just when you thought you couldn't figure it out because of the intricacies, it became clear. It was great. George Clooney and Tom Wilkinson were superb, as always. But you can have Tilda Swinton. For me, she is an interesting as watching paint dry. Why not put Glenn Close in there?
  
  cal

  • 5 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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