A highly respected law firm has an employee named Michael Clayton (George Clooney) who is a mysterious ‘fixer’. He is now part of a dangerous situation in which he must track down a lawyer who recently suffered a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty.
Within a matter of minutes, the film introduces us to a world of mystery and lots of unknowns, leaving the audience questioning what on earth is going on. The film does a fantastic job of toying with us as an audience. After a powerful opening scene, we are then taken back in time to four days before key moments. I encourage you to stay for the ride.
Once Michael Clayton as a character is introduced, and we gain a more excellent knowledge of the plot, I’m happy to say the movie is worth your time. Funnily enough, this is not your typical ‘who done it’ story. For a thriller, the film enjoys focusing on Michael Clayton’s situation and the decisions he’s faced with every step of completing the task he has been given. Clayton, as a character, is also juggling personal problems of his own involving those he cares about, including his son. As an actor, George Clooney’s work in this film is incredibly impressive. Sure, there are time where jokes are made, but overall we see good acting, even more so in the 3rd act as the film’s tension grows once all the parts of the plot are revealed and come together.
Visually Michael Clayton might not be anything to brag about, but I promise the Bluray’s audio track is fun. Hearing James Newton Howard’s score playing ever so faintly in the background was noticeable, but never overpowering as one could expect with a thriller. There were even moments where minor effects like the clicking of a gun made us both jump as the audio track was so effective in all speakers. Thankfully this film is not just a thriller which is dialogue-heavy.
Overall, Michael Clayton is not your typical thriller, but it does deliver a great story providing the audience members can be patient. The film does an excellent job at following Michael as a character, because he too is someone with problems while trying to think of others in the mix. At no point did Clooney’s performance feel dull or unwise. It’s a delightful film and for a 2007 film, it never really got the attention it deserved.
7.5/10
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Review Written by Peter Walkden
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