MICHAEL CLAYTON [2007]
This film absolutely met and exceeded my expectations. I had to watch a few parts more than once to fully understand the plot, but I didn’t mind this at all as I was happy to be watching a movie with a plot worth thinking about. I just watched it and I feel like I want to watch it again already. The characters were interesting and engaging and I wouldn’t even have minded if the film had been longer than 2 hours if it meant some of the characters could have been developed more. I don’t really have much else to say in this review - I just wanted to bring attention to this film.
My own synopsis of the film: (I don’t think I’m spoiling anything here)
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a “fixer” for prominent New York law firm Kenner, Bach & Ledeen. This basically means that he is the firm’s go-to guy to cover-up and clear away major blemishes in a “valued” client’s reputation or legal standing that could negatively affect the firm’s chances in winning lawsuits on behalf of such clients (we’re talking large and powerful corporations).
When one of the firm’s own leading attorneys has what seems to be a public mental breakdown in court while working on one of the firm’s biggest and most difficult cases (a class-action lawsuit brought against a powerful client of the firm), Michael has the job of bringing the attorney, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), to his senses so that the firm can minimize any damage his outburst may have on the firm’s ability to win the suit for a client they cannot afford to disappoint. In short, Michael is caught in a dangerous web of corporate corruption and must figure out whether his colleague, Arhur Edens, is really mentally unstable (as the bosses at the firm would like to be true and are willing to “make true”) or if Arthur is onto exposing something so big and important that it must be discovered even if it means the firm loses the suit, he loses his job, or worse…
Directed by Tony Gilroy and produced by Sydney Pollack (who also plays one of the bosses of the firm)
For me it’s a 9/10