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| Movie Review: Michael Clayton Alternate Title: Erin Brockovich meets The Insider
Story: I will not be evasive
about this one. I loved this film. It is intelligent, stylish, tense,
dark, well written, has great acting and it's icy blue canvas chills
you to the bone. This is the debut directorial piece of Tony
Gilroy who also wrote the screenplay. Bravo Mr. Gilroy. Michael Clayton is
an in-house 'fixer' for a giant law firm. If any of it's clients have
messy problems he manages to make them go away. He is a conflicted character
with a myriad of personal demons. The lawyer handling the firm's largest
class action case has a breakdown and Clayton is sent in to 'fix' the
problem. The firm represents a giant chemical company against the small
farmers suing for damages claiming the chemicals caused death and illness. The film is about corporate greed versus the
public need, conscience, morality, right and wrong. It is about the
price we are willing to pay to be bought off. The themes are not new
but the retelling of this morality tale is worth your time. Be warned that you will have to pay attention
and think. You should not take any popcorn or comfort breaks during
this film. Acting: George Clooney as Michael
Clayton is first rate. He is not the cocky, handsome dude we sometimes
see in those Ocean films. He is a complex, still very handsome
dude who tackles enormous problems. Tom Wilkinson as
the lawyer who breaks down turns in another terrific performance. Tilda
Swinton as the chief counsel for the chemical company is brilliant.
Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe and Ken Howard
are all first rate too. Great casting, all around. Predilection: I like George Clooney
and I liked Gilroy's other scripts including: The Bourne Series,
Proof of Life, The Devil's Advocate nd Dolores Claiborne. Critters: Three horses
Food: Breakfast cereal, birthday cake and french
bread
Sex Spectrum: There was absolutely no time for sex
in this white knuckler but there was some conversation about two Lithuanian
hookers and their services.
Soundtrack: Appropriately tense.
Visual Art: A beautiful bone chilling canvas by cinematography
by Robert Elswit
Theater Audience: Very crowded for a Tuesday afternoon.
Weather: It is winter in the Midwest and in NYC. It
is cold and blue.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: Corporate greed and its excesses make
me squirm
Drift Factor: I did not drift for a nano second.
Predictability Level: Moderately high.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Yes
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. For some
of Tilda Swinton's other work you can rent: The
War Zone, Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon
and the fabulous, Orlando
Length: Under two hours
LOBO HOWLS: 9
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