Movie Review: Michael Clayton

Ok first off, I know this is not a new movie.  And I know it won some awards or something.  Maybe the whole thing was just over my head, but for the first three quarters of this movie, I had no idea what the hell was going on.  No offense to the late Sydney Pollack or producer Tony Gilroy (writer of the blockbuster Bourne movies), but this movie was so convoluted and meandering and vague, it was like watching C-SPAN.   It took me until almost the end of the movie to realize that there was more than one company involved.  I thought George Clooney and Tom Wilkinson worked for U North with the White Witch (Side note: Matt, Tilda Swinton != Cate Blanchett).

Once I finally realized what the premise of the movie was (a staggeringly simple plot, once you stop trying to figure it out), I was rendered completely unimpressed.  The good guys and the bad guys are clearly identified, and the final outcome is completely predictable.

The only redeeming quality of this movie is the acting.  Swilton delivers a stunning performance as the driven-to-a-fault corporate executive, Clooney ROCKED that final scene, and Wilkinson presents such a committed
performance as a slightly deranged lawyer that its no surprise
all three were nominated for Academy Awards, with Ms. Swilton taking home Best Supporting Actress.

All in all, this “thriller” was decidedly un-thrilling.  The genre has never been my favorite, and this movie did little to change my mind.

~ by bobwise on July 2, 2008.