Review of Michael Clayton

Starring George Clooney, Michael Clayton is not a great film, but it is certain a well-rounded film. The acting is superb. The writing is spot on. But the story itself falls flat in the end.

Michael Clayton is a "fixer" for a prestigious law firm in New York. He helps the firm by doing everything from extortion to coercion. He is not the person you ever want to kill. Michael is the person you want to buy. He's smooth, sophisticated and well-versed in New York law. Just as his career was at its peak, Michael finds himself in the center of a dangerous conspiracy, taking on his younger brother's debt with a restaurant, and fighting for a fellow co-worker and friend's integrity.

Michael's car blows up, his friend supposedly commits suicide, and his own life is hanging in the balance. A company called, "UNorth" is trying to win a lawsuit. We never really fully understand the reasons behind this lawsuit, but the film isn't really about that. The question is what is Michael Clayton really about? Is it a story of a fixer who learns he's not happy in his work? Perhaps. Michael does confess that he wants out at one point. Is the film about how desperate law firms can be to win a case? Maybe. There are several great examples of desperation in Michael Clayton. Tapping phones, tracing calls, and spying are all kind of desperate acts by a weak organization. But perhaps, given some deeper thought, Michael Clayton is about something more.

As for me, I was not too impressed by the story. It lacked the same bravado as writer/ director, Tony Gilroy's previous film story, The Bourne Identity. The film starts out sort of bland and ends sort of bland. It's not due to the directing or the acting, all of which is top-notch, it's due to the story itself. Do we ever fully understand what all Mr. Fix-It, Michael Clayton can do? No. Are we thrown into a wild mess of conspiracies, deceit and danger far too late in the film? Most definitely.

More of the principal cast

Tom Wilkinson as Arthur Edens
Michael O'Keefe as Barry Grissom
Sydney Pollack as Marty Bach
Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder