Michael Clayton

Name: Michael Clayton
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: October 5, 2007
Duration: 119 min
Rating: 82
Cast: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson

2007

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 396 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 396 Ratings

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Michael Clayton

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: October 5, 2007 | R

Starring: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson

Summary: Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. At the behest of the firm’s co-founder Marty Bach, Clayton, a former prosecutor from a family of cops, takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen’s dirtiest work. Clayton cleans up clients’ messes, handling anything from hit-and-runs andMichael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. At the behest of the firm’s co-founder Marty Bach, Clayton, a former prosecutor from a family of cops, takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen’s dirtiest work. Clayton cleans up clients’ messes, handling anything from hit-and-runs and damaging stories in the press to shoplifting wives and crooked politicians. Burned out and discontented in his job, Clayton is inextricably tied to the firm. At the agrochemical company U/North, the career of in-house chief counsel Karen Crowder rests on the settlement of the suit that Kenner, Bach & Ledeen is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. When the firms top litigator, the brilliant Arthur Edens, has an apparent breakdown and tries to sabotage the entire case, Marty Back sends Michael Clayton to tackle this unprecedented disaster and in doing so, Clayton comes face to face with the reality of what he has become. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Tony Gilroy

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 119 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Owen Gleiberman

It's better than good; it's such a crackling and mature and accomplished movie that it just about restores your faith. Read full review

Ella Taylor

This loving throwback to the paranoid thrillers of the ’70s is a beauty. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Michael Clayton is a here’s-how-it-happened drama, cleverly but not over-elaborately structured. Read full review

Dana Stevens

The great strength of Michael Clayton is that it's no "Erin Brockovich." Rather than a populist tale of class-action triumph, the movie is a grim vision of legal and ethical compromise at the top. Read full review

David Denby

It’s all fascinating. Gilroy is an entertainer. Read full review

James Berardinelli

There is an audience out there for slower, more intellectual thrillers. This is a motion picture for them to discover. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Without the steadfast intelligence of Clooney's performance, Michael Clayton wouldn't work half as well as it does. Read full review

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User Reviews

StevenF

Oct 8, 2013

Many people have notions of what a 'fixer' may actually do, some see rubber gloves and cleaning up crime scenes, others may see smooth talking, good looking and suited up individuals who confidently go about their job as a sought after individual. But George Clooney plays a different sort ofMany people have notions of what a 'fixer' may actually do, some see rubber gloves and cleaning up crime scenes, others may see smooth talking, good looking and suited up individuals who confidently go about their job as a sought after individual. But George Clooney plays a different sort of fixer, his character, Michael Clayton, is realistic in his approach to every part of his job, he isn't a miracle worker, nor does he make every problem disappear because at the end of the day, he simply cleans up the mess, but the bigger the mess, the more complex the clean-up. Clayton himself has problems of his own that he cannot sweep under the rug, while he may look the part, Clooney portrays a character who isn't everything he appears, he owes serious amounts of money to loan sharks after we discover his gambling habit, struggles with financing his life and desperately tries to repair his past mistakes but still creating new ones, all while taking on a big "mess". The law firm he works for is facing a crisis after one of its partners, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) has quite the mental breakdown in the midst of a massive court case which Arthur knows the company his firm is defending are guilty of their crimes, something Michael is desperately trying to amend. It's clear to see why we have the title named after our main character, it is focusing on the life a man leads who feels he has no purpose, a man who is taken for granted and then thrown to the side, something Clooney portrays through many forces and silent stares, while we also see how he tries to balance his life as a dad and a man with a job that he can't really explain to anyone, but he shares the screen with someone else who is confident in her job but masks her demons, lawyer for the big client, a client called UNorth being sued for illegal chemical dumping Karen Crowdor (Tilda Swinton), equally as cunning and potentially dangerous as Clayton. It's films like this where we look to the talent involved to realise they are the driving force of the film, the tension and chemistry they create while also taking from a sharp and smartly written piece from director and writer Tony Gilroy, who cleverly takes a sombre approach to have this business thriller being much more than it seems, there isn't realty an inspiring touch to leave you flabbergasted, but more about style and the performances, it focuses solely on the consequences of actions as we have many guilt-ridden characters with too much power on their hands. As mentioned, the performances are the standout moments of this film, Clooney proves his stability and grit while Swinton also shoes her worth as the sort of Yin to Clooney's Yang. It's a smart and complex film that stays intriguing thanks to its strong cast and compelling story.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DeborahL.

Oct 20, 2007

Riveting, humane and wonderfully constructed and performed. Wilkinson, Swinton, Clooney, Pollack to die for.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TimothyDungan-Levant

Dec 8, 2007

A solid, gripping genre piece -- not perfect, but very good, with a superb, low-key performance by Clooney at its center that gives it heft it might not otherwise have had.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EricL.

Jan 28, 2008

Decent movie. Tom Wilkinson was amazing in this movie and so was George Cloony.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BillyS.

Oct 24, 2007

O.K. it's very good, but I don't see it being a classic thriller. The story is really overloaded with a lot of sub-plots that weigh it down but all the actors do a tremendous job of pulling them all together resulting in a killer ending. Clooney, Wilkinson, Pollock and Swinton are O.K. it's very good, but I don't see it being a classic thriller. The story is really overloaded with a lot of sub-plots that weigh it down but all the actors do a tremendous job of pulling them all together resulting in a killer ending. Clooney, Wilkinson, Pollock and Swinton are excellent but the whole thing reminded me of The Rainmaker. I think the critics are a little eager to say Oscar nomination on this one probably because its the "serious" Clooney. It's good, but come on, a masterpiece?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

D.Lebowski

Mar 26, 2008

Hopefully people call this intellectual only because they had plenty of time while the movie was droning on to think about more interesting topics or daydream. The choices the characters have to make are ridiculous and seem contrived to serve the weakly themed plot. Acting and direction Hopefully people call this intellectual only because they had plenty of time while the movie was droning on to think about more interesting topics or daydream. The choices the characters have to make are ridiculous and seem contrived to serve the weakly themed plot. Acting and direction were good, could have used an editing floor renovation.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JoyceC.

Oct 8, 2007

Just dumb and unactive, it explains things in the best of ways that seems like they exxagerate. The situation is big, but the movie is not. The story is just the situation, and now it has a plot problem.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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26	#26 Best Movie of 2007
26	#26 Most Discussed Movie of 2007
69	#69 Most Shared Movie of 2007