With 7 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), "Michael Clayton" went to the top of my catch-up viewing list of movies I'm trying to see before the Oscar ceremony takes place. I was a bit surprised by the number of nominations this film received. Now, after seeing it, I completely understand the attention from the Academy. We've seen stories about the corruption and unethical practices of big corporations before, but seldom with the sophistication and subtlety shown here. George Clooney stars as corporate fixer Michael Clayton, a man whose life seems to have gotten away from him in ways he's powerless to address. He's tapped out, both morally and financially, struggling to connect with his young son, and caught at the center of a dynamite keg of a case involving his law firm. Although it's obvious that Clayton is adept at playing in the big leagues, his weariness with the ethical questions of his job is beginning to eat away at him. When he's assigned the seemingly impossible task of reigning in one of his firm's brilliant but mentally unstable attorneys (Tom Wilkinson) in time to avoid the collapse of a crucial case, Clayton reaches his limit. Slimy attorney Tilda Swinton, representing an opposing law firm, complicates matters even further. Oscar nominees Clooney, Wilkinson and Swinton, along with director Sydney Pollack (as Clayton's boss) and Austin Williams (as Clayton's young son Henry), turn in amazing performances. There's not a dull moment in the film, not to mention some stunning twists and surprises and a perfect ending.
Things to love about this movie: The whole package (wonderful direction and script by Tony Gilroy, great performances, satisfying ending), the character of Michael Clayton proved much more interesting and complicated than originally expected
Things to hate about this movie: The marketing of the movie was misleading for me, detracting from my interest instead of encouraging it
Pleasant surprises: The sophistication and subtlety of the script and performances, not a car chase in sight.
Unpleasant surprises: The throwaway character of a Clayton brother with drug problems
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