Amazon Holiday

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Michael Clayton

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A corporate law firm's 'fixer' (George Clooney) starts to realize that he's on the wrong side of the law.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Micheal O'Keefe, Austin Williams

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: PhotobucketGo! This is one of those movies that doesn't seem all that special at first, but eventually builds to such a good ending that the rest ends up feeling worth it.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: An intelligent wit can be found in much of the dialogue.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No... But if it were a true story it would... And I'm not saying it's not a true story when you change the names and compare it to similar people and things going on in our world... But it's actually not a true story.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It's the reason I'm reviewing it now! Call it the Comeback Kid, if you will, but this film which nobody disliked, and yet not many people saw when it first hit theaters, seems to be gaining the most beneficial resurgence from its nominations for 7 Academy Awards, including all the big ones.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, and Tilda Swinton are all nominated for Oscars for their performances. Tom Wilkinson is the most deserving of the nomination, but if you look at the competition, Tilda Swinton is the only one with even the slightest chance of winning her category.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: For a first time director, this is quite an accomplishment. Tony Gilroy does a wonderful job with the actors-- as noted by the fact that they all got Oscar Noms-- but the camera style, while completely competent, doesn't have a voice of its own. In other words, if I went to see his next directing effort, without knowing he was the director, there is no chance that I would walk out saying, "That was a Tony Gilroy film," as what it is to be a 'Tony Gilroy Film' has yet to be defined.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The last scene is a compelling roller-coaster ride of convoluted logic. But I have some complaints about the rest. For example, I would have liked to see Michael Clayton doing his job more. You know, 'fixing things.' There was an opportunity to show us how clever he is, but instead of showing his genius, the script only talks about it. Also, there seemed to be a lot of deep meaning wrapped up in the book, "Realm and Conquest," which Clayton's son, Henry is reading, and which he talks about ad nauseam, and convinces Tom Wilkinson's character to read; but whatever the deep meaning was, I missed its relevance. And although the first half of the movie is put to good use at the end, (not to be redundant but), wasn't there a way to make the first half of the movie play a little less boring and redundant?

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6 comments:

Who We Are said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Who We Are said...

Was awful! Should have a red light, train track gates and bells ringing to keep people away.

Monique said...

I'll be honest, of all the green lights I've given, this was the closest to being a yellow light. But I'm not sure I see how you could justify a red light for it? Feel free to elaborate...

(It's funny, it seemed like everyone I talked to loved this movie until I gave it a green light. That rating seems to have brought out the voice of discent.)

Who We Are said...

Nah, didn't changed my mind when I saw your green light, changed my mind when I saw the film. Clooney's dreaminess only gets me so far. Be nice if the movie made any sense. Um, attorney-client privilege. Yeah that kinda sinks the entire film. Not to mention, the B-story of Clooney not being able to raise the $80,000? Yeah, I could find that money if it was life or death and I've been out of work for...ever. Clooney's auctioning off steel mixing bowls to pay an ancient geezer and he's the top "whatever needs to be done" man at a firm. Yeah, that rings a bit false. Maybe you couldn't get past the dreaminess. BTW, it's dissent. Geez!

RT said...

Ya got good taste with this one Mo. I loved this movie. If I were buying DVDs I would've bought this one.

Anonymous said...

I think its a great movie and makes perfect sense. Yes, Clooney is the top "fixer" at the firm, but its a dirty business, and the money is not near what it would be if he was a real attorney (they make that clear in the movie if you watch it...) He also has a gambling addiction which caused his bar to go down in the first place. Everything he owns if the firms pretty much.

Its a great movie for an educated person. You have to actually think during the movie