Movie Review: Michael Clayton (English) 72

Hollywood has the uncanny ability to pull off movies with intriguing corporate and legal plots and what more, top of the line stars, give life to these characters. One complaint that one may have after watching this movie or after reading reviews by is that the story is difficult to grasp, or trouble understanding some dialogs till you get fully into the movie much later. So, along with writing a review, I have chosen to include spoilers too.

George Clooney plays the title role Michael Clayton, an attorney with a high flying law firm, Kenner, Bach & Ladeen as a Fixer by profession and is also a gambling addict who has just lost a lot of money. In the beginning we are shown a scene of Clayton driving in countryside after meeting a client; he pulls aside to take a look at some hillside horses; just then his car explodes! Flash back to four days before, then starts a gripping drama.

A seeming failure in personal life, Clayton owes a big sum to gambling lords and the plans to open a bar with his brother are down too. His firm tells him that one of their leading attorneys, Arthur Edens, played by Tom Wilkinson suffered with mental issues while dealing with a class action lawsuit against their biggest client United Northfield, who’s corporate Counsel Karen Crowder is determined to pull it through by all means.

If someone really had to take key credit for making a movie with a tagline ‘The Truth Can Be Adjusted’ so gripping, it has to be the writer-director Tony Gilroy. Lead Performances are intense with George Clooney extremely convincing as a high profile legal fixer who also has an ethical edge. Though devoid of high octane action or unwanted twists, this corporate thriller will surely keep you glued to the screen! Thoroughly Recommended!

Well, something that baffled me was how Tilda Swinton got the supporting actress Oscar? Probably, I would have never noticed her as much in the movie had she not won the Academy Award. Maybe she was better than her co-nominees! Or, maybe the voters saw something special that a commoner couldn’t. Instead, I felt that other Oscar nominees for the film, for acting, George Clooney & Tom Wilkinson, were amazing.

Rating: 8/10 – Intriguing Plot, Great performances by George Clooney & Tom Wilkinson!

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