Nappaland's MovieBlog
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MICHAEL CLAYTON (R)
Plot Summary: As mysterious events begin to unfold around a case at the law firm where he works, one man struggles to find the truth, stay alive and come to grips with his own personal turmoil.
Reason for the Rating: Language, including some sexual dialogue.
Every year when the Academy Award season rolls around, new life is breathed into the movies. Some films long retired from theaters return once again to screens, revitalized by the buzz surrounding them now that they have the prestigious label of “Oscar Nominee.”
This year, Michael Clayton, nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture, tops the list of theater returns—and for good reason. If you’re having a hard time figuring out which award-buzzed films merit a trip to the theaters, believe me, this one is worth it. It’s a well-acted, tightly written legal thriller that will set your heart pounding and your mind racing.
The main focus of the film is its lead character, Michael Clayton (played by George Clooney). Clayton works as a “fixer” at a prestigious law firm in New York City, which means he’s the guy who takes care of the firm’s tricky situations and does the legal dirty work. With a seemingly endless list of contacts, a sharp, smooth-talking personality and an easily-adjusted set of ethics, Clayton is good at what he does. That is why, near the beginning of the film, his firm sends him on an emergency fix-it mission.
Clayton is sent to deal with one of the senior partners of his law firm, a brilliant lawyer named Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), who has just had what would seem to be a nervous breakdown. Edens had spent much of his career working on a case for a company called U/North, one of the firm’s most prestigious and wealthy clients. U/North, however, is a highly unethical client, and the more Edens has worked on this case, the more he’s realized that people are dying because of the company he represents. Suddenly, he has come to a breaking point, refusing to work for U/North anymore, and putting the law firm in jeopardy. Clayton is an old friend of Edens, so he is sent in to help Edens come to his senses. Before he can do much, however, things start to get dangerous. It is clear that something is wrong with this case, and Clayton begins to learn more of what Edens has learned. And when things start to get dangerous on a personal level, Clayton finds himself caught in a dangerous corporate web of deception.
What sets this movie apart
from the usual legal thriller, however, is its focus. Instead of concentrating
all the attention on a central mystery or game of cat and mouse, this movie is
more of a character study. Michael Clayton, though he seems to have it all, is
actually enduring a number of personal struggles. To begin with, he’s in debt—a
lot of it. He also has a bit of a gambling problem, so he doesn’t have the
resources to pay off this debt. His position at the firm, though important,
doesn’t provide him with the kind of security he feels he deserves. He’s worked
there for years, but he’s not a partner, and he seems to be going nowhere. He is
not content, and when things with the U/North case begin to heat up, so does all
the conflict within him. With every piece of information he obtains, he has to
come one step closer to figuring out how much the truth is worth. Could he sell
out? Should he? What good is doing what’s right if it ruins him? And what’s
wrong with turning a blind eye if it will, for the time being, solve some of his
most pressing problems? Clayton is not a man of great principle, but as things
begin to crystallize in the U/North case, he has to face the truth—or at least
figure out what it means to him.
This is quite fascinating
to watch, but it also comes in the midst of quite a bit of action and suspense.
The movie still is a legal thriller after all, and it definitely delivers plenty
of intensity. But it’s a sophisticated intensity, and that’s what makes it so
great. The acting is also amazing. Clooney is excellent as a conflicted man,
struggling against his outside world and his inside one. Wilkinson is also
terrific as a man teetering between insanity and perfect clarity. But it’s Tilda
Swinton, playing the ruthless and unethical corporate attorney for U/North, who
truly shines. She has just the right blend of insecurity and desperation to make
her powerfully dangerous. It’s fun to watch.
Though rated R for language, Michael Clayton is not an outright offensive film. It would probably be best to leave the kids at home, but overall, this movie is definitely worth catching before the Oscars are awarded.
MOVIEBLOG RECOMMENDS:
Michael Clayton is good all the way around. This one’s worth seeing!
AFTER THE SHOW:
• Why do you think both U/North and Clayton’s firm were willing to overlook the harm their product caused?
• What does this film seem to say about greed? What does the Bible teach about greed? How are these messages similar?
• Do you think Michael Clayton did the right thing in the end? Why?
• Why do you think Michael Clayton reunited with his brother at the end of the movie? Was this a good choice? Why or why not?
AH
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