Michael Clayton (2007)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Tony Gilroy

Writer (WGA):

Tony Gilroy (written by)

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The Truth Can Be Adjusted

Plot:

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit.

Plot Keywords:

Law Firm | Attorney | Fixer | Debt | Lawsuit

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 12 wins & 51 nominations

Cast

Tom Wilkinson	...	Arthur Edens
Michael O'Keefe	...	Barry Grissom
Sydney Pollack	...	Marty Bach
Danielle Skraastad	...	Bridget Klein (voice)
Tilda Swinton	...	Karen Crowder
George Clooney	...	Michael Clayton
Wai Chan	...	Chinese Dealer
Alberto Vazquez	...	Player #1
Brian Koppelman	...	Player #2
Thomas McCarthy	...	Walter (voice) (as Tom McCarthy)
Denis O'Hare	...	Mr. Greer
Julie White	...	Mrs. Greer
Austin Williams	...	Henry Clayton
Jennifer Van Dyck	...	Ivy
Frank Wood	...	Gerald
Richard Hecht	...	Auctioneer
Bill Raymond	...	Gabe Zabel
Jonathan Walker	...	Del (voice)
Sharon Washington	...	Pam
Cynthia Mace	...	Wendy (voice)
Michael Countryman	...	Evan (voice)
Ken Howard	...	Don Jefferies
Amy Hargreaves	...	Interviewer
Susan Pellegrino	...	Secretary
Rachel Black	...	Maude
Matthew Detmer	...	Todd
John Douglas Thompson	...	Jail Guard
Merritt Wever	...	Anna Kaiserson
Brian Poteat	...	Deposition Lawyer
Christopher Mann	...	Lieutenant Elston
Edward Furs	...	Milwaukee Captain
Katherine Waterston	...	Third Year
John Gerard Franklin	...	Correction Officer
Remy Auberjonois	...	Fifth Year
Pun Bandhu	...	Fourth Year
Jason Strong	...	First Year
Robert Prescott	...	Mr. Verne
Paul Oquist	...	Starter
Terry Serpico	...	Mr. Iker
Heidi Armbruster	...	Anna's Sister
Pamela Gray	...	Cindy Bach
Andrew Hunter Sherman	...	UNorth (voice) (as Andrew Sherman)
Kevin Hagan	...	Raymond Clayton
Julia Gibson	...	Stephanie Clayton
Sean Cullen	...	Det. Gene Clayton
Susan Egbert	...	Michelle
David Lansbury	...	Timmy Clayton
David Zayas	...	Detective Dalberto
Douglas McGrath	...	Jeff Gaffney (as Doug McGrath)
Gregory Dann	...	Cop
Cathy Diane Tomlin	...	Cop #2
Sam Gilroy	...	Copy Kid
Maggie Siff	...	Attorney #1
Sarah Nichols	...	Barry's Assistant
Susan McBrien	...	Jean
Jordan Lage	...	Partner
Neal Huff	...	First Associate
Paul Juhn	...	Second Associate
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Askin	...	Auction Bidder (uncredited)
Kevin Cannon	...	Auction Worker (uncredited)
Clem Cheung	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Tony Devon	...	Corporate Lawyer (uncredited)
Tony Gilroy	...	Taxi driver (uncredited) (voice)
Emelie Jeffries	...	Raymond Clayton's Nurse (uncredited)
Owen Lund	...	Ron (uncredited)
Kimmy Suzuki	...	Copy Shop Clerk (uncredited)
Steven Weisz	...	Executive (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Gilroy

Writing credits (WGA)
Tony Gilroy		(written by)

Produced by
George Clooney	....	executive producer
Jennifer Fox	....	producer
Christopher Goode	....	co-producer
James A. Holt	....	executive producer (as James Holt)
Anthony Minghella	....	executive producer
Kerry Orent	....	producer
Sydney Pollack	....	producer
Steve Samuels	....	producer (as Steven Samuels)
Steven Soderbergh	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Gilroy

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Kevin Thompson

Art Direction by
Clay Brown

Set Decoration by
Paul Cheponis
George DeTitta Jr.
Christine Mayer
Chuck Potter		(as Charles M. Potter)

Costume Design by
Sarah Edwards

Makeup Department
Chris Bingham	....	makeup department head
Jerry Popolis	....	key hair stylist
Waldo Sanchez	....	hair department head
Mia Thoen	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Roger DaPrato	....	production supervisor: Samuels Media
Alyson Evans	....	assistant unit production manager
Lauren Flaster	....	production supervisor: Samuels Media
Christopher Goode	....	unit production manager
Charlene Olson	....	post-production supervisor
Milan Popelka	....	production supervisor: Samuels Media
Igor Srubshchik	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Apicella	....	first assistant director
Christopher Goode	....	second unit director
Jason Ivey	....	second second assistant director
Michael Pitt	....	second assistant director
Matt Power	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Curry Jr.	....	construction foreman
Joseph DeStephano	....	set dresser
Chris DeTitta	....	lead man
Paul Gaily	....	set dresser (as Paul S. Gailey)
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Michael Herlihy	....	construction coordinator
Timothy Joliat	....	on-set dresser (as Timothy J. Joliat)
James V. Kent	....	assistant property master
Robin McAllister	....	property assistant (as Robin Voth)
John Miserendino	....	special artwork
John Oates Jr.	....	set dresser
Timothy Powers	....	set dresser (as Timothy Power)
Steve Roberts	....	artist: fantasy artwork
Jeffrey Rothstein	....	artist: photography
John Schabel	....	set decorator: additional photography
Peter T. Shevlin	....	set dresser
Alyson Wellins	....	art department coordinator (as Alyson Wellins Lewin)
Robert Blair	....	shop electrician (uncredited)
Michael Cycan	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Emily Damico	....	construction production assistant (uncredited)
Joe Landolfi	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Theo Sena	....	props (uncredited)
Steven Shellooe	....	camera scenic artist (uncredited)
Bryan Tonkin	....	construction key grip (uncredited)
Greg Voth	....	graphic artist: props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael Barosky	....	sound mixer
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Dan Korintus	....	dialog editor
Andrew Kris	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Langman	....	sound effects editor
Michelle Mader	....	cable person
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Daniel Rosenblum	....	boom operator
Paul P. Soucek	....	supervising sound editor (as Paul Soucek)
Bill Sweeney	....	foley editor (as William Sweeney III)
Robert Troeller	....	sound technician
Daniel Ward	....	first assistant sound editor
Jerry Yuen	....	cable person
Mike Poppleton	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Bruce Pross	....	sound effects recordist (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Brink	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin Zack	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Spencer Armajo	....	digital compositor
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects supervisor
Saeed Faridzadeh	....	digital compositor
Max Harris	....	Flame artist: Asylum
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Lee Roderick	....	lead compositor
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration

Stunts
Chris Barnes	....	stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Joanne Lamstein	....	stunts
John E. Mack	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Myles Aronowitz	....	still photographer
Daniel Beeman	....	best boy rigging grip (as Daniel Beaman)
Angela Bellisio	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
James Brown	....	grip: additional photography
Tom Cioccio	....	second assistant camera: additional photography (as Thomas J. Cioccio)
Joseph R. Collins	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Joe Collins)
Joseph R. Collins	....	director of photography: second unit (as Joe Collins)
John W. Duvall	....	key grip: additional photography
Robert K. Feldmann	....	dolly grip (as Robert Feldmann)
Tim Ferraer	....	grip
Steven Finestone	....	additional director of photography: second unit
Doug Foote	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (as Douglas Foote)
Pedro Hernández	....	best boy grip (as Pedro Hernandez)
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Edward Knott III	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Edward J. Knott III)
Robert Kummert	....	key grip: second unit
Robert Kummert	....	key rigging grip
Gary Martone	....	key grip
Michael J. Maurer	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jon Montgomery	....	chief lighting technician: additional photography (as Jon C. Montgomery)
Rocco Palmieri	....	rigging gaffer
Patrick Quinn	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit
Scott H. Ramsey	....	chief lighting technician (as Scott Ramsey)
Steve Ramsey	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
Michael Rudolph	....	electrician
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Gregor Tavenner	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
T. Ray Treece	....	playback operator
T. Ray Treece	....	video assist operator
Rebecca Venezia	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Anthony Wolberg	....	director of photography: additional photography
John Young	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit
Jessica Bennett	....	grip (uncredited)
Robert Carnevale	....	grip (uncredited)
John Coots	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
David Elwell	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
John Frisbie	....	grip (uncredited)
Stephen Girouard	....	grip (uncredited)
Adam Hall	....	grip (uncredited)
James Harker	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dan Kubicek	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
William MacGhee	....	electrician (uncredited)
Scott Maher	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Derek J. Manganelli	....	additional camera loader (uncredited)
Paul C. McKenna	....	crane technician: Technocrane (uncredited)
Ron Morales	....	grip (uncredited)
Ben Noble	....	electrician (uncredited)
Justin Panzanaro	....	best boy grip: additional photography, second unit (uncredited)
Antonio Ponti	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Aaron Randall	....	additional grip (uncredited)
Lance Rieck	....	remote camera technician (uncredited)
John Romer	....	film loader (uncredited)
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Lowell Schulman	....	best boy rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Jonathan Stern	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Perry Unjang	....	company grip (uncredited)
Ryan Webb	....	electrician (uncredited)
J. Dan Wright	....	electrician (uncredited)
Zenfeek	....	additional grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Amelia Rasche	....	casting associate
Jennifer Sabel	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Denise Andres	....	costumer
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kate Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor
Wade Laboissonniere	....	assistant costume designer
Fionnuala M. Lynch	....	set costumer (as Fionnuala Lynch)
Gina Castellano	....	costume coordinator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jason Fabbro	....	video colorist
Ulysses Guidotti	....	assistant editor
Aaron Marshall	....	first assistant editor
Stephen Nakamura	....	digital film colorist
Ron Barr	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Jesse Thompkins III	....	editorial production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Chris Bacon	....	additional orchestrator (as Chris P. Bacon)
Michael Brooks	....	musical sound designer
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Clay Duncan	....	musical sound designer
Mick Gormaley	....	assistant music editor
Richard Grant	....	auricle control systems
Alex Kharlamov	....	musical sound designer
Alan Meyerson	....	music scoring mixer
Alan Meyerson	....	score recordist
Blake Neely	....	conductor
Julia Newmann	....	additional orchestrator
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
Brian Ross	....	music supervisor
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Stuart Michael Thomas	....	additional orchestrator
Stuart Michael Thomas	....	composer: additional music
Stuart Michael Thomas	....	musical sound designer
Mel Wesson	....	musical sound designer
Greg Vines	....	assistant score engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dennis Salomone	....	transportation captain
Kevin R. Wood	....	transportation co-captain
Zoa Keith	....	dispatcher (uncredited)

Other crew
Megan Asbee	....	set staff assistant
Dylan Ashbrook	....	assistant: Jennifer Fox
Abby Bailey	....	first assistant accountant
Hilary Benas	....	set staff assistant
Kit Bland	....	set staff assistant
Joshua Chaplinsky	....	production secretary
Eddy Collyns	....	location manager
John 'JR' Craigmile	....	production accountant (as J.R. Craigmile)
Jennifer Crammer	....	production coordinator (as Jen Crammer)
Mary Cybulski	....	script supervisor
Juan E. De La Rosa	....	parking assistant
Kimmie Dellechiaie	....	set staff assistant (as Kim Dellechiaie)
Nicole DiCesare	....	assistant: Tony Gilroy (as Niki DiCesare)
Ann Marie Doris	....	assistant: Steven Samuels
Adam Freelander	....	production staff assistant
Dave Ginsberg	....	assistant location manager (as David Ginsberg)
Jessalyn Haefele	....	production staff assistant
Julie Kuehndorf	....	unit publicist
Catherine Lynch Sullivan	....	production controller
Karen Marsh	....	assistant: Steven Samuels
Angel McConnell	....	assistant: George Clooney
Melissa Mugavero	....	set staff assistant
Karla Nappi	....	assistant: Kerry Orent
Paul Polow	....	set staff assistant
Chris Ryan	....	set staff assistant
Michael Scelza	....	consultant: poker (as Mike Scelza)
Loren Sklar	....	set staff assistant
Graham Smith	....	set staff assistant
Hilary Smith	....	assistant location manager
José Tejada	....	parking coordinator (as Jose Tejada)
Amy R. Trachtman	....	assistant production coordinator (as Amy Trachtman)
Justin Trimm	....	set staff assistant
Giovanni Zeqireya	....	security: George Clooney
Ramona Adair	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Kathleen Beall	....	location scout (uncredited)
Jessica Cabrera	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Adam Carroll	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Matt Flanders	....	location scout (uncredited)
Lowell Freedman	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Karen Gehres	....	epk producer (uncredited)
Joseph F. Graham	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeni Harden	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ganesh Hennigs	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Aaron Hurvitz	....	location scout (uncredited)
Sean Ilnseher	....	location scout (uncredited)
Joe Knizeski	....	production assistant (uncredited)
William Laviano	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Wayne Scott Miller	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Joe Ovbey	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jillian Roache	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Susan Silas	....	location scout (uncredited)
Jason Stant	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Rachael Tartell	....	location coordinator (uncredited)
Shane Williams	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Samuels Media
• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Clayton Productions
• Mirage Enterprises
• Section Eight

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2007) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Movie-Eye Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• SF Norge A/S (2007) (Norway) (theatrical)
• SND (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Deltamac Entertainment (2007) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Noori Pictures (2007) (South Korea) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Asylum VFX (visual effects) (as Asylum)
• Fluid (animated segment: U/North commercial)
• Handmade Digital (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bank of Ireland  financing
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Canali  wardrobe: George Clooney
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Deborah Ross Film Design  main and end titles
• Eisner & Frank  production legal
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Jaeger-LeCoultre  watches (as Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches)
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Joann Kane Music Service)
• Mercedes Benz USA  thanks
• Pacific Title  titles
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Remote Control Productions Inc.  score mixed at
• Summit Entertainment  international sales and distribution
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate facility (as TDI)
• Technicolor  prints
• That Cat Camera Support  Chapman camera dollies
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack
• Wilshire Stages, The  ADR recording facility

MPAA:

Rated R for language including some sexual dialogue.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Norway:11 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Germany:12 | Denmark:11 | Netherlands:6 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (certificate #43163) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Taiwan:R-12 (original rating) | France:U | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Brazil:12 | South Africa:13L | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | New Zealand:M | Norway:10 (TV rating) | India:A

Filming Locations:

1345 Ave of the Americas, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Samuels Media

Trivia:

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan that is blown up in this film was first used in filming of The Devil Wears Prada (2006). For the earlier film it was cut in two for use in process shots featuring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. It was then welded back together and repainted in order to be blown up in Michael Clayton (2007). The car's preparation was featured on "Shooting Cars" (2006).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Michael Clayton spots Arthur Edens in the back alley, we see Arthur carrying a bag of bread. In the beginning of the conversation, one bread in the middle is missing its top, which apparently may have been eaten. In the following shots, we see the same bread full, without the missing top.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Arthur Edens: Michael. Dear Michael. Of course it's you, who else could they send, who else could be trusted? I... I know it's a long way and you're ready to go to work... all I'm saying is wait, just wait, just-just-just... please hear me out because this is not an episode, relapse, fuck-up, it's... I'm begging you Michael. I'm begging you. Try and make believe this is not just madness because this is not just madness. Two weeks ago I came out of the building, okay, I'm running across Sixth Avenue, there's a car waiting, I got exactly 38 minutes to get to the airport and I'm dictating. There's this, this panicked associate sprinting along beside me, scribbling in a notepad, and suddenly she starts screaming, and I realize we're standing in the middle of the street, the light's changed, there's this wall of traffic, serious traffic speeding towards us, and I... I-I freeze, I can't move, and I'm suddenly consumed with the overwhelming sensation that I'm covered with some sort of film. It's in my hair, my face... it's like a glaze... like a... a coating, and... at first I thought, oh my god, I know what this is, this is some sort of amniotic - embryonic - fluid. I'm drenched in afterbirth, I've-I've breached the chrysalis, I've been reborn. But then the traffic, the stampede, the cars, the trucks, the horns, the screaming and I'm thinking no-no-no-no, reset, this is not rebirth, this is some kind of giddy illusion of renewal that happens in the final moment before death. And then I realize no-no-no, this is completely wrong because I look back at the building and I had the most stunning moment of clarity. I... I... I... I realized Michael, that I had emerged not from the doors of Kenner, Bach, and Ledeen, not through the portals of our vast and powerful law firm, but from the asshole of an organism whose sole function is to excrete the... the-the-the poison, the ammo, the defoliant necessary for other, larger, more powerful organisms to destroy the miracle of humanity. And that I had been coated in this patina of shit for the best part of my life. The stench of it and the stain of it would in all likelihood take the rest of my life to undo. And you know what I did? I took a deep cleansing breath and I set that notion aside. I tabled it. I said to myself as clear as this may be, as potent a feeling as this is, as true a thing as I believe that I have witnessed today, it must wait. It must stand the test of time. And Michael, the time is now.

Movie Connections:

Featured in You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Thought of You

Michael Clayton a different kind of thriller

Michael Clayton is not your typical legal thriller. Oh, it has most of the standard trappings of one: double-crossing, shady back room deals, and a guilty client. But in the case of Michael Clayton, the film focuses most of its attention on the questionable moral quagmire of working for guilty clients, living your life protecting those who you can't help but find reprehensible, wanting to get out, but finding you are good at it and that is where your superiors want you. Michael Clayton isn't a revelatory film, but it is a smart one that deals in the grey world that we all live in, not the black and white one legal films are usually about.

The central character is Michael Clayton (George Clooney), a "fixer" at a major Manhattan law firm. His job entails him cleaning up other's messes, not litigating in a court room. He hates the work, but the senior partner at the firm, Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack), wants him to stay in the job because he has a talent for it. Things are not rosy for Michael right now: his addict brother has run a business venture that Michael was a partner in into the ground, leaving Michael with thousands of dollars in debt; his relationship with his ex-wife is on the rocks, and into this environment comes a whole new caliber of problem: Michael's friend, and fellow attorney, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), who is a lead attorney for a major case for the firm involving U/North, a huge, multifaceted corporation, has discovered evidence damning to U/North, and has also, seemingly, lost his senses.

Arthur begins plotting to publicly expose U/North with this evidence, thereby destroying them, something that U/North's lead corporate attorney, Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton), cannot allow. Michael is called in to help calm Arthur and bring the situation under control, but it becomes quickly obvious that Arthur cannot be reigned in, and Karen begins looking at far more dire methods of containment.

When you walk into Michael Clayton, you need to be prepared for a limited amount of action, and a fair amount of talk. It is a film about words and far less exciting events than found in many movies. Michael Clayton is also not the most straightforwardly plotted film. A great deal of information is suggested through inference and requires the full attention of the audience. But Michael Clayton is hardly boring. It delves into the decisions that individuals make when their livelihood depends on living in a moral quagmire. Michael is a man who is concerned about making sure that he can make the payments on a huge debt and dealing with the sometimes annoying and reprehensible people that the law firm provides its services to. Arthur is in a similar situation, but he can no longer live with himself and the protection of clients who are obviously guilty. It is debatable whether Arthur is mentally unhinged, or simply woken up to the reality of his actions and what they mean in the grander scheme of things.

Michael Clayton is the directorial debut of Tony Gilroy, a longtime Hollywood screenwriter, who crafts a film that manages to keep you involved like a good thriller without providing many of the requisite elements: chases, shootouts and fisticuffs. Michael Clayton is a thriller that works at a slower pace, but still manages to enthrall with its developments. Critical to the film's success is its performances. George Clooney gives us a Michael who feels many aspects of his world closing around him and tries to keep all the balls in the air. Tom Wilkinson's turn as Arthur is that of a man who has experienced an epiphany, seeing the world like a newborn baby. Finally, Tilda Swinton's Karen Crowder is a woman who is all about appearance (one of her first scenes reveals her practicing a speech so that it will appear perfect) and ensuring that no one rocks the boat of U/North. She has sold her soul to the devil and will do anything to keep the company intact.

Michael Clayton is certainly not everyone's cup of tea. It requires a strong attention span and a willingness to not have everything spelled out for you. If you can provide that, then it is a film experience that will provide some rewards.