Michael Clayton

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.

Flixster Users

72% liked it

Critics

90% liked it

R, 2 hrs.

Directed by: Tony Gilroy

Released: October 12, 2007

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DVD Released: February 19, 2008

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Top Flixster Reviews


  • 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 )
  • April 29, 2009
    "I'm not a miracle worker, I'm a janitor. The math on this is simple. The smaller the mess the easier it is for me to clean up."


    Contemporary Hollywood thrillers are distinctly separated into two categories: visceral thrillers (which are dependent on action to genera...

    ...( read more )
  • April 1, 2009
    "I'm not a miracle worker, I'm a janitor. The math on this is simple. The smaller the mess the easier it is for me to clean up."

    Director Tony Gilroy (Bourne series) delivers a provocative and riveting thriller about a "fixer" for a large corporate law firm who is ... ...( read more )
  • March 19, 2009
    A fitting conclusion, good performances by everyone, and a smart script make Michael Clayton an intriguing, character-driven exercise in the political thriller genre.
  • February 17, 2009
    Michael Clayton: There's no play here. There's no angle, there's no champagne room. I'm not a miracle worker, I'm a janitor, and the smaller the mess it is, the easier it is to clean up.

    George Clooney stars as Michael Clayton, a "fixer" in a large law firm in New York.

    At the... ...( read more )
  • June 26, 2009
    Crisp and impressive, this professional lawcase issue reveals the workings of in- house fixers, who worship the motto of adjustment of truth.
    Gives a realistic and disheartening depiction of the exploitation of public faith for profit making motives by firms.

Critic Reviews


View more Michael Cl... reviews at RottenTomatoes.com
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

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
  • AussieJenni
    January 11, 2008
    Official sites for Michael Clayton (2007)

    http://michaelclayton.warnerbros.com/
  • 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.

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