George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton

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...( read more  read more... ) 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.

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72% liked it

76,437 ratings

Critics

90% liked it

185 critics

R, 2 hrs.

Directed by: Tony Gilroy

Release Date: October 12, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 19, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (23,372)


  • October 1, 2009
    A good original thriller, nicely directed by Gilroy and well acted by the cast. Clooney is on good form as usual but its Wilkinson and Swinton who really steal the show. Swinton's corporate villain is easily the best female baddie since Louise Fletcher's Nurse Mildred Ratched. He...( read more)r character is handled really well and is a good enough reason to watch the film alone!
  • September 28, 2009
    Is there such a thing as an honest lawyer? This movie struggles with that question. Could you defend a company that sell chemicals that poison its customers? This is an interesting movie to watch. I recommend it.
  • August 27, 2009
    A dull and disappointing Action Thriller, that simply lacked umph and struggled to grasp my concentration.
  • July 21, 2009
    A tremendously entertaining and pulse-pounding thriller. It's gripping, riveting, exciting, explosive, genuinely thrilling and all the way exhilerating. Director, Tony Gilroy crafts a magnetic, intelligent and top-notch powerhouse of a film. It's shaply written and terifficly wel...( read more)l-crafted. George Clooney has never been better, he gives a powerful and unforgettable performance. Stealing the show in every outstanding way. It stands as one of his greatest performances ever. A complex and compelling character. A great cast of talents that all show what their made of. A great example of what superb acting is all about. Tilda Swinton is teriffic. Tom Wilkonson is brilliant. Sydney Pollack gives a fine performance. It serves up on it's hard-boiled story with insenity that wont quit. A strong film fuelled by rip-roaring tension. A solid, remarkable, smart, brilliant, mature and incrediably energetic edge of your seat film. Sizzeling, dazzeling, extroadinary and totally edge of your seat. A drilling, haunting, ingenious and satisfying conclusion. It grabs you and dosent let go. I loved this film and everything it brought to the table.
  • June 21, 2009
    "You're so fucked. Here let me get a picture while I'm at it."

    Academy Award nominations for directing, acting, writing, movie. So basically one of "The Movies" of the year 2007. Well, Oscars don't make films great, they're just awards that give some publicity but I'll admit the...( read more) hype worked on me. I wanted to see this, watched it and got a bit disappointed.

    There's a lot of talent behind the film. Tony Gilroy, in his directorial debut, wrote the 'Bourne' films, the producers of the film, Soderbergh, Minghella etc, are well known and know how to make successful movies and the actors are so called A-list actors. But like the "Dawg" from American Idol would say; "Didn't work for me."

    The film is another corporate law firm thriller that are bound to get positive reviews from critics. Well, I ain't no real critic, just a movie buff and, man, did I get bored and depressed during the film. Like Joker said from the 'Dark Knight'; "Why so serious?". Not a single smile, everyone's looking like they got "fucked in the ass by a roll of quarters" and the cinematography lenses varied from grey to supergrey. And that's a shame because the script seemed somewhat interesting. But I had difficulties to get my focus on.

    The acting was good and I'm pleased that one of my favourite actresses got credit for her performance but I'm pretty sure that I will not give this film another chance. It might deserve it, I might like it the next time but then again why bother when there's hundreds of films that give me pure entertainment rather than depressive visuals and thoughts.
  • November 5, 2009
    C'est un bon film, un défenseur des droits qui s'oppose à trop gros que lui, c'est du déjà vu mais j'aime bien.
  • October 29, 2009
    !Comercial or Stupid! :|
  • October 22, 2009
    Somebody hit the snooze button
  • October 20, 2009
    Saw this on the plane and it put me to sleep. I just don't buy George Clooney's acting.
  • October 18, 2009
    50 mins and i couldn't saw it more

Critic Reviews


October 13, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

A throwback to trim, intelligent moral thrillers like The Verdict and Absence of Malice. full review

October 5, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

This is unequivocally a thriller for adults full review

October 5, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Just when you thought Hollywood might have forgotten how to make a smart adult thriller along comes a film like this. full review

October 5, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is just about perfect as an exercise in the genre. I've seen it twice, and the second time, knowing everything that would happen, I found it just as fascinating because of how well it was all shown... full review

October 5, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Instead of the typical John Grisham-style connect-the-dots legal thriller, we get a film that's idiosyncratic, with a time-shifting structure, a surfeit of subplots and characters. full review

October 3, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

Hipster filmmakers keep looking backwards to the 1970s, hoping to disguise how ill-equipped they are to deal with contemporary social issues. full review

October 3, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Deliberate, demanding and character-driven, Michael Clayton flies in the face of what sells at the multiplex. full review

October 1, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

Clooney is as good as he has ever been. full review

September 11, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

George Clooney's subtle, affecting performance is the chief reason to see this super-sincere social drama. full review

View more Michael Clayton reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • terris85017
    January 11, 2009
    (2007 Director: Tony Gilroy) I heard lead actor George Clooney interviewed on I think Conan O'Brien..he suffered some personal inuries in making this one. An interesting note is that his own father was a journalist, something he drew upon for his acting in this one...
  • suprabuddha
    September 15, 2008
    This is definately one for thinking adults as there are no car crashes, aliens or shoot-outs just a well written plot, subtle acting and a real world sensibility. It should have won the Oscar but the academy prefered the more more visceral "No Country for Old Men" No matter if you appreciate quality films dive in!!!!
  • pavacri23
    May 28, 2008
    this movie is definetly overated. the movie is so boring, only at the end gets a little bit better but nothing especial or something we haven't seen.
  • fazelix
    May 12, 2008
    its a disaster
  • ronnieforever
    February 9, 2008
    Just to say... I'm pretty sure Jennifer Ehle is not in this movie.. don't know why it says she is...anyway I wouldn't mind seeing it when it comes out =)
  • thedweeb
    February 6, 2008
    I thought this film was excellent. Beautifully shot, wonderful acting and gripping story line.
    http://www.dvd-dweeb.com/reviews/review-michael-clayton
  • markggroesbeck
    November 8, 2007
    An engaging and intelligent thriller. About a "fixer" for a powerful law firm (George Clooney) who jumps into action when a colleague's (Tom Wilkinson) bizarre behavior jeopardizes the law firm. Great look at a world where questionable behavior leads to large financial rewards and it's easier to be complacent rather than to stand up for what's right. Clooney gives one of his best performances as a complex person whose morality is not so easily defined. Terrific acting by Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton as the firm's determined lawyer who will stop at nothing to defend a billion dollar lawsuit against the firms' cooperate client. The director, Tony Gilroy chose to frame the story as a flashback which is one of the things that can make the story hard to understand at times but eventually it all becomes clear. This is a movie with intelligence and demands no less of it's viewers.
  • betaraahmadu
    October 29, 2007
    i will really like to watch the film,cos iam yet to see it.Also being a great fan of Clooney.
  • laiaqua2005
    October 10, 2007
    I think Michael Clayton is really a good movie. and i want to watch this interesting movie.
  • kakashicutie1
    October 7, 2007
    i want see i think is good

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Michael Clayton Trivia


  • He played these roles : Michael Clayton Danny Ocean Jake Geismar Bob Barnes Fred Friendly Miles Massey Jim Byrd  Answer »
  • I have played the following characters-who am I? Matt Stevens Lip Syncing Transvestite Batman / Bruce Wayne Jack Foley Everett Capt. Billy Tyne Danny Ocean Michael Clayton  Answer »
  • What film has this tagline :the truth can be adjusted ?  Answer »
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