| Overall Grade: |
B- |
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| Story: |
C |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
B- |
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| Visuals: |
B- |
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Great Acting in Typical Story
by Jersey Joe (movies profile)
Jun 19, 2008
49
of
59 people found this review helpful
"Michael Clayton" is the story of a big time lawyer who handles his firm's dirty laundry. This makes him the most underhanded of the underhanded. George Clooney gives Clayton depth and humanity, but the script doesn't do much for the film.
Given what he does for a living, Michael Clayton is a flawed but likable guy. He cares about his son, but doesn't spend enough with him. He's loved by his family that doesn't see enough of him.
My problem with the film is that I've seen it before. A lawyer makes a great living because he doesn't have a conscience, then suddenly he gets a conscience. Something changes him after all these years of being ethically void.
What happens to change Michael Clayton involves a fellow lawyer at the firm who loses it. The lawyer (Tom Wilkinson in an excellent performance) goes crazy because he can no longer walk the ethical tightrope that his friend Michael Clayton still performs on.
I was disappointed that the film went in the direction it did. Bad lawyer turns good is a story that's been told too often. I think Wilkinson's character's story would have made a much more interesting movie. Let's see the weight of the ethical dilemma push someone completely over the edge. We don't get that here.
As disappointed as I was, I must say the film is worth watching for the performances alone. Clooney is beleivable as an intelligent, likable but conflicted individual. Tilda Swinton is wonderfully insecure as the corporate shark. My favorite performance is Sydney Pollack as the law firm's senior partner. He is not evil, but he is comfortable in what he does for a living and sees no need to apologize for it. He's a personable guy, but he's pretty matter-of-fact about a lot of what he suspects is going on.
I can always recommned a film with excellent acting, so I can recommend "Michael Clayton" warts and all. It's not brilliant film making, but seeing good actors in roles that fit is worth the price of admission. |
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