JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Michael Clayton (2007) - Trailer Included
I fought the law and the...law lost
Writer/Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Jennifer Van Dyke
"I'm not the guy you kill. I'm the guy you buy! Are you so fucking blind that you don't even see what I am? I sold out Arthur for 80 grand. I'm your easiest problem and you're gonna kill me?" - Michael Clayton
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards at this years ceremony, including Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Film, Michael Clayton is a simmering thriller about the destruction of the human soul. The choices we make that lead us away from idealism and taint our human spirit. A character study of corporate law, espionage and corruption removing the essence of a flawed man named Michael Clayton.
George Clooney plays the title character, a shadow operative with attorney credentials known in the business as a fixer. Working for Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen's, a massive international law firm his skills of persuasion and manipulation are put to use cleaning up KBL indiscretions, crimes and misdemeanours.
There's no play here. There's no angle. There's no champagne room. 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. - Michael Clayton
Defeated in his personal life with the weight of an emotionally messy divorce, a failed business venture and struggling with a gambling addiction. Heading towards a financial abyss combined with a crisis of faith.
Always working, a late night phone call thrusts Clayton into suppressing the fallout from the public meltdown of high profile attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson). Low key power plays, cunning misdirection and underhanded dealings soon follow.
As Michael’s self realisations reveal the truth of his own existence, truth of the world he lives in and his only hope for salvation in the form of a son.
"Do I look like I'm negotiating?" - Michael Clayton
John Doe Says:
The restrained Directorial debut of Tony Gilroy (Writer of the Jason Bourne adaptations) must be a large component in this successful, deliberate parring back of an easily verbose genre. An intelligent, introspective atmosphere makes it easy to believe this is very much a dramatised mirror of its subject.
Removing the glamour and fanfare to unfold like an anti-John Grisham adaptation, every plot point that is usually punctuated by an overture or exaggerated delivery is instead understated dictating a tone of realism.
The often uncomfortably intimate cinematography gets us involved in the compelling tale. Darkness, shadow and colour form a fascinating mood. The still camera and actors work in harmony never drawing attention to its intentions. The synchronised effect is that silences communicate more than dialogue. Cementing the subtle cues is the musical score, rightfully receiving an Academy nod along with the Cinematography.
The contemplative screenplay is injected with a dazzling display of undertones that bleed suspense and anxiety into the film. A strange excitement is present in a lot of the exchanges as we anticipate shadowy whispers laced with hidden agendas and complex emotions.
The engrossing performances free of public image become character vessels. George Clooney, (Good Night and Good Luck, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Good German, O Brother Where Art, Welcome to Collingwood, Out of Sight, Three Kings) again impresses with his selection of potential material. His depiction of a crumbling man in a demanding position is gracefully handled. Echoing Bob Barnes (Syriana) in some ways, it must have been a daunting proposition to again have to go outside his safety zone.
2008 Best Actress Tilda Swinton (Broken Flowers, Adaptation, Thumbsucker, The War Zone, Orlando) always manages to inject dimension to any part. As Karen Crowder she again takes what may have appeared negative on the page and becomes a character we can understand while despising. Like Clooney she too allows us to empathise with the despicable choices that have to be made in the story.
Tom Wilkinson plays the psychologically tender, motivated by mania Arthur Edens. Going places that must be frightening for the crew to turn a camera on, the weakened psyche is expressed in exploratory monologues that question the core themes of the screenplay.
Michael O Keefe, Sydney Pollack, Jennifer van Dyke and the rest of the cast all match the intensity of the main players.
John Doe loves a film where its weakest link lies in demanding curiosity for human behaviour. You have to be looking and listening, it’s a cinema triumph that if you let it will glimpse a dangerous society without scruples, governed by greed and deception.
The Michael Clayton Trailer
Michael Clayton
Writer/Director: Tony Gilroy
Starring: Tilda Swinton, George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Jennifer Van Dyke
"I'm not the guy you kill. I'm the guy you buy! Are you so fucking blind that you don't even see what I am? I sold out Arthur for 80 grand. I'm your easiest problem and you're gonna kill me?" - Michael Clayton
Nominated for 7 Academy Awards at this years ceremony, including Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Film, Michael Clayton is a simmering thriller about the destruction of the human soul. The choices we make that lead us away from idealism and taint our human spirit. A character study of corporate law, espionage and corruption removing the essence of a flawed man named Michael Clayton.
George Clooney plays the title character, a shadow operative with attorney credentials known in the business as a fixer. Working for Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen's, a massive international law firm his skills of persuasion and manipulation are put to use cleaning up KBL indiscretions, crimes and misdemeanours.
There's no play here. There's no angle. There's no champagne room. 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. - Michael Clayton
Defeated in his personal life with the weight of an emotionally messy divorce, a failed business venture and struggling with a gambling addiction. Heading towards a financial abyss combined with a crisis of faith.
Always working, a late night phone call thrusts Clayton into suppressing the fallout from the public meltdown of high profile attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson). Low key power plays, cunning misdirection and underhanded dealings soon follow.
As Michael’s self realisations reveal the truth of his own existence, truth of the world he lives in and his only hope for salvation in the form of a son.
"Do I look like I'm negotiating?" - Michael Clayton
What's that about 3 days and a condor Sydney?
John Doe Says:
The restrained Directorial debut of Tony Gilroy (Writer of the Jason Bourne adaptations) must be a large component in this successful, deliberate parring back of an easily verbose genre. An intelligent, introspective atmosphere makes it easy to believe this is very much a dramatised mirror of its subject.
Removing the glamour and fanfare to unfold like an anti-John Grisham adaptation, every plot point that is usually punctuated by an overture or exaggerated delivery is instead understated dictating a tone of realism.
The often uncomfortably intimate cinematography gets us involved in the compelling tale. Darkness, shadow and colour form a fascinating mood. The still camera and actors work in harmony never drawing attention to its intentions. The synchronised effect is that silences communicate more than dialogue. Cementing the subtle cues is the musical score, rightfully receiving an Academy nod along with the Cinematography.
The contemplative screenplay is injected with a dazzling display of undertones that bleed suspense and anxiety into the film. A strange excitement is present in a lot of the exchanges as we anticipate shadowy whispers laced with hidden agendas and complex emotions.
The engrossing performances free of public image become character vessels. George Clooney, (Good Night and Good Luck, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, The Good German, O Brother Where Art, Welcome to Collingwood, Out of Sight, Three Kings) again impresses with his selection of potential material. His depiction of a crumbling man in a demanding position is gracefully handled. Echoing Bob Barnes (Syriana) in some ways, it must have been a daunting proposition to again have to go outside his safety zone.
2008 Best Actress Tilda Swinton (Broken Flowers, Adaptation, Thumbsucker, The War Zone, Orlando) always manages to inject dimension to any part. As Karen Crowder she again takes what may have appeared negative on the page and becomes a character we can understand while despising. Like Clooney she too allows us to empathise with the despicable choices that have to be made in the story.
Tom Wilkinson plays the psychologically tender, motivated by mania Arthur Edens. Going places that must be frightening for the crew to turn a camera on, the weakened psyche is expressed in exploratory monologues that question the core themes of the screenplay.
Michael O Keefe, Sydney Pollack, Jennifer van Dyke and the rest of the cast all match the intensity of the main players.
John Doe loves a film where its weakest link lies in demanding curiosity for human behaviour. You have to be looking and listening, it’s a cinema triumph that if you let it will glimpse a dangerous society without scruples, governed by greed and deception.
The Michael Clayton Trailer
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Film & TV on DVD
It was out at in Cinemas last year, due on DVD in Oz March 19th...it just took me ages to review it.
You know my view: I'm not a fan of Clooney but he chooses great films, over time I'm warming to Clooney the actor though and Michael Clayton is a very convincing role....
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
How good was the ending in this film? And it was a great decision to have Michael's reaction to his own behaviour play on through the credits - the audience can decide when they've had enough of it, when to leave.
Film & TV on DVD
The ending was superb, nice observation. I really enjoyed a lot of the little touches like no courtroom scene in a legal drama.
Great to see you back.
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I just got back from Italy and Barcelona so I'm happy... going to be starting uni again soon so that should keep me occupied.
Haha, I didn't think about the lack of a courtroom scene in a legal drama - that's also a neat observation!
Hope you're good as well. How's married life?
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Film & TV on DVD
There was something classic 70's ala Sidney Lumet's All The Presidents Men to the screenplay. Great word "Paranoir", sums it up well.
Cool to have you drop by.
Film & TV on DVD
Married life is no different than premarried, we had been together 10 years already so we know each other well...still good time.
I will try and get over to your blog soon and have a read, i still subscribe.
Your blogs and posts are great, looks like you've been a member for a long time! Im still new to this, but it looks very good indeed.
Thanks for reading, means a lot!
Latoyah
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i take your point of view about the understated realism, it was just so understated it was barely holding my attention . . . the plot also hinged on quite a few coincidences that i guess we are supposed to accept as good karma which i found a little implausible . . . tilda swinton was fantastic of course and i liked how the end credits appear with us stuck on clooneys face, we can actually see him thinking
Film & TV on DVD
I like your blog too, thoughtful and entertaining. I do check each new post you make but don't always have time to comment.
Thanks for the kind words.
Film & TV on DVD
As you can tell I'm teh opposite, using restraint in a story that has been told before really draws me in. I thrive on ambiguity and character mystery, which this had in spades.
With you on the love of the final shot of Clooney and as you can tell I am a Tilda devotee.
Screen Adventure
The man has style, just face it. I couldnt be subjective in my review for Michael Clayton - I was just so impressed with it. It's a fantastic role for Clooney too.
A bloody good review - one of your best perhaps.
Film & TV on DVD
I still stand by the Clooney films versus Actor, but don't deny he has a certain classic style.