MICHAEL CLAYTON (includes trailer)
September 15th 2010 13:15
Who is Michael Clayton? What does he do? And more importantly, why? If you could ask him, I’m not sure he could even explain it himself. A knight in shining armour to the legal industry but a man who has few options left in his personal life.
Sent by a litigation firm from one mess to the other, Michael Clayton gets sent to do all the dirty work. Whatever mess you make - he fixes. Michael refers to himself, self depreciatingly as a ‘janitor’. If an important client of the firm hits someone with their car, he’s there to fix it, whatever problem the company runs into he sorts out. Surrounded by mystery, Michael Clayton is an enigma, and in this legal thriller he faces his biggest challenge yet.
Listed as ‘special council’, Michael Clayton, played by George Clooney, is called in urgently when the firm’s top litigator Arthur, played by Tom Wilkinson (44 Inch Chest, Batman Begins) who is the advocate for a 3 billion dollar lawsuit, has had a flight of madness, stripping down naked in a bout of insanity caused by his bi-polar disorder. Arthur goes from advocate to whistle blower, intending to build a case against his own client. Soon Michael, in trying to fix the mess that Arthur has caused, realizes that he’s dealing with a problem much bigger than he might be able to handle, as he’s challenged by forces that value corporate survival over human life.
Channelling the American films of the 70’s ie. All The Presidents Men, Network and Fail Safe, Michael Clayton is something special. A unique legal thriller that is sophisticated, elegant, slick and extremely intelligent. George Clooney continues to have a unique eye for superb material in this A-class film written and directed by Tony Gilroy, writer of The Bourne Trilogy. Michael Clayton avoids the traditional courtroom settings and takes us in a different direction entirely, further than we expect.
At the risk of gushing, films such as this one come along all too rarely. Michael Clayton, which could be described as ‘a thinking man’s film’ is exquisite in all it’s rich detail and masterful execution. The script alone already makes for a brilliant vision - plot driven yet never dictating the actions of the characters. Michael has the ability to fix everything around him, but his personal life is surrounded by dead ends, and we begin to wonder if he does what he does by choice.
Complimented by lush, bullet proof cinematography, courtesy of Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood, Boogie Nights, Red Belt). Michael Clayton boasts confidence and class, the camera remaining still and absorbing, soaking up the cerebral images of character’s calculating risks and making threats as the noose tightens around their own necks. Intricate and suspenseful, there is a joy in witnessing this superior story unfold methodically and perfectly, with no cracks to be found.
Composer James Newton Howard (I Am Legend, Blood Diamond) provides a lush, melancholic musical score with tinges of ambient based regret, which compliment the inner world of these quietly unsure characters, adding an audible counterpart to the film’s silky, anamorphic photography. Editor John Gilroy (Narc, Pride & Glory) ratchet’s up the suspense, making the most of every second and shaping a legal story that seems to have more at stake with it’s every breath. Production Designer Kevin Thompson (The Yards, Funny Games) defines the film’s surroundings with a slickly detached, buzzing legal world.
One of the most interesting elements of Michael Clayton is the main character’s introverted struggle, unlike most legal dramas, it’s not the immoral dilemma that eats away at him, but instead his lack of satisfaction in what he does. By the end, it’s his work that defines him, soulless work that is served out to the highest bidder. Clayton observes the world of corporate meanies, danger hangs over his head the more he gets involved and Clooney soaks it all up, simply reacting to everything around him. Clooney’s terrific here, it’s one of his best performances, he rises to the challenge of Gilroy’s bold, powerhouse script and acts his heart out. There’s a scene between him and Tom Wilkinson (who is frankly intimidating here, he’s just that good), where they go face to face in an alley, laying all their cards out, and it’s perhaps the best acted scene of 2007.
One of the most noticeably worthy performances in the film come from Tom Wilkinson, who is just on fire. His bouts of mental sickness are used by Gilroy to elicit an insanity in Wilkinson’s character which creates havoc everywhere. Wilkinson’s portrayal has a rising madness in him, you can see his thoughts catching fire, racing through his head chaotically, Wilkinson is the stick of dynamite in an already perfect film, brilliantly bursting with power with his every line.
Actress, Tilda Swinton (Burn After Reading, Broken Flowers) is understated and sublime, taking the form of a primly groomed lady executive, we see her behind closed doors practising her delivery in private. The film cuts to these small moments alone with her, comparing them to her final pristine polish of her statements in deposition rooms. This cross cutting will be used at a critical point later on in the film, in what is a stroke of genius in Gilroy’s writing and direction.
Tom Wilkinson gives a sensational performance in 'Michael Clayton'
The late Sydney Pollack (Eyes Wide Shut, Tootsie) plays lawyer Marty Bach and as always Pollack delivers in his own inimitable way. There isn’t a weak link to be found in the entire cast and the only real flaws of the film come down to a few moments which simply aren’t as strong as all the others. Michael Clayton is solid gold, a thriller that takes the back entrance to it’s legal territory. Virtuosic as a whole and entirely deserving of all it’s praise and many Oscar nominations. Intricate and dazzling, involving and gripping - make time for Michael Clayton!
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Seems we are again in agreement as you saw from my own review.