kieran's Talk

Michael Clayton

Director:Tony Gilroy
Released: 2007
Stars: Tom Wilkinson,George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack
Genre:Drama/Thriller
Country: USA









Michael Clayton 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. 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 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 sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life

Well having watched most of the Oscar nominated films of 2007, I can safely say that this is up there with at least top 6 of last year. It's has everything that I want in a film and more. The key here for me is orginality in the plot. The script is conducted so so well and the orginality in this makes it gripping to watch. But it also makes Michael Clayton, a more character driven story. The plot is just part of the film...after all the film is titled " Michael Clayton"

I have to admit that legal dramas are films I enjoy watching from time to time. Films like wall Street or Erin Brockovich, for me are good films in their own right but Michael Clayton is a whole different cattle of fish. As I said before the film is orginal and has some smart dialoguemwhich at times can often be diffcult to comprehend. But the beauty of the screenplay means that I just sit and watch every frame in this film, with every word spoken. This film has something which imediatly makes you compelled to watch it and perhaps I'm still not quite sure what that may be. There are films around that make me sit up and watch and Michael Clayton is not exception. The beginning of the film may but a lot of people off but once you precedd tho the end of the film you won't be disappointed. perhaps aswell because it's not your average legal drama.

The acting in Michael Clayton is something I particularly enjoyed. Having three of the main actors gaining Oscar nominations is only one factor in this. However for me the highlight of the film was Tom Wilkinson's performance as Arthur Edens, who brilliantly portrayed the Manic depressive attorny, on the brink of sabotaging the U North Case. His performance was the highlight of the film and one that seems to have been seriously underated by many crtics. Tilda Swinton, another English actor, also brilliantly played her character well and deserves all the credit she gets. Clearly George Clooney was going to get something as he was in the title role...perhaps I might think differently of his performance with a repeat viewing of the film at some point in the future.

Direction by Tony Gilroy is intelligently done. For one thing the scene in which Clayton stops to gaxe at the three horses on the filed, certainly has some element of symbolism in that. I loved the opening monlogue by Arthur Edens which opening up the film brilliantly and added a certain sense of what was to come in the film. We also see glimses of foggy climates, which mirror the emotions of Michael Clayton. All done so so well.

Overall Michael Clayton is as good as a lot of people have been saying. It's smartly written, directed, acted photography and well paced. I hope you like it as much as I did. But don't come to the film with the assumption that you are viewing an average legal drama, as it's all about one man Michael Clayton.

Enjoy!

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