Michael Clayton – Brilliant!
Saturday afternoon, though the weather was absolutely beautiful, I was in the mood for another good movie. Playing at my local theater there were several choices including two that are on Hollywood.com’s list of Oscar contenders (see previous post) – Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Michael Clayton. Now, I think Cate Blanchette is a wonderful actress but I wasn’t in the mood for Elizabeth, a period piece. I wanted intrigue and suspense. Well, I got it in the form of Michael Clayton.
I gotta tell ya the first 20 or so minutes into the movie had me dazed and confused…no pun intended. I had no earthly clue where the movie was heading. I had read the synopsis on the Consolidated Theaters site and as such, I was anticipating a totally different take on the story. So, when the opening scenes began, as confused as I was, I’ll tell ya this, it kept me interested! All I could think of was, “I have no clue where this is going but I’ll be damned if I find myself bored just because the story doesn’t follow how I think it should!” Twenty minutes later, it all began to make sense.
Michael Clayton is the story of a corporate law firm “fixer”. An attorney played by George Clooney, Michael Clayton, finds himself in a couple of dilemmas – down on his luck in the restaurant business with a family member having just sold most of his restaurant to auction to pay the bills and no longer enjoying his job with the lawfirm Kenner, Bach, and Leeden. Michael is the guy who “fixes” things from hit and runs that major clients are involved in to dirty politicians. He’s Kenner, Bach, and Leeden’s choice clean up man. The firm is about to wind up a major law suit for a high-profile agricultural client, U North, when the firm’s lead litigator, Arthur Eden (played by Tom Wilkinson), jumps off the deep end causing more controversy potentially unlocking the key to blowing this case wide open. Clayton steps in to the rescue….or does he?
With a cast as large as its name, Michael Clayton stars George Clooney, Sydney Pollack, and Tom Wilkinson, all portraying their respective parts brilliantly. Wilkinson was so convincing that it is he that I see that should receive an Oscar nomination. The cinematography, editing, direction, and script were equally as brilliant. If I could give this movie “two thumbs up!” I would. Wait – I can. I have two thumbs!!
Two thumbs up from this viewer! Another movie I highly recommend.
See YOU at the movies,
Lisa 
(Image Courtesy of: http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/12/23/cmCLOONEY_narrowweb__300×450,0.jpg)
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[...] Pollack directed such classics as The Way We Were, Tootsie, Out of Africa (of which he won for Best Director and Best Picture in 1985), to name a few. He produced 47 films throughout his career (including Tootsie and Out of Africa) and starred in over 30 Hollywood and made-for-TV films as well. His most recent production and acting credits combined were for the 2007 Oscar-winning film, Michael Clayton of which I reviewed here. [...]
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