As the walls begin to close on Michael Clayton, you start feeling suffocated. When that happens, you realize that what you are watching is a top class screenplay in action. ‘Michael Clayton’ predictably does a redemption number in the end, but not before telling you why it was so necessary.
The film, named after the protagonist deals with his life as a ‘fixer’ for a prestigious law firm. A former litigator, Clayton is the man whom everyone calls when the shit hits the ceiling. He can fix deals, change facts, in short, get the murky side of the lawyer’s job done. His most challenging fixing assignment is to find a formerly-decorated-now-moral-and-eccentric colleague who is handling one of the firm’s biggest clients, but feels the need to expose their dark side to the world. As he tries to bring him in, he realizes that the enraged client is after both him and the lawyer. Is he able to save his colleague and himself is what the plot tries to answer.
‘Michael Clayton’ is an excellent suspense thriller set against a corporate landscape with lifeless walls, unimaginative offices, grey and dark suits and a dark atmosphere outside. It is a wonderful screenplay that brings to light, characters that are intelligent, deep and also hurt. Tony Gilroy who had earlier directed the ‘Bourne’ series delivers a fine film. The only sore point of it was that the ending was predictable. Does it have to be redemption every time? Does the guy have to discover his conscience? Why can’t he just be the ‘fixer for life’? Something different!
George Clooney revels in this role. He looks haggard and washed out and portrays Clayton’s frustrations at doing the worst job in the firm and the emotional demands of being broke, divorced and now hunted superbly. He was nominated for the Oscar for this role. Tilda Swinton plays the devious chief counsel of the client firm, a lonely successful powerful woman who is surprised and afraid of her own ruthlessness. Her role is an interesting one as it is the string-puller in the background. She won the best supporting Oscar for this role. I did not think it deserved that much, but nonetheless an impactful performance. Tom Wilkinson as the brilliant but eccentric lawyer is predictable in a role that is quite similar to the ones he's done before.
Watch ‘Michael Clayton’ if you want to watch a gripping intelligent film that brings to light, the complicated lives of people who are uncomfortable in their skin.