4/4  C to the Layton
This movie was divinely orchestrated, brilliantly written, and awesomely directed. On top of that, there are performances to die for from George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, and Tom Wilkinson. I loved how each actor took roles that weren't in... (read full)

3.5/4  Best Picture of 2007
High powered attorneys, corrupt in house counsel, and "fixers" working in law firms create interesting food for the movies which is a unique twist to a somewhat typical movie genre. Much of the films concerning the subject matter of law us... (read full)

2/4  Not complex or interesting enough
I found this movie to be not complex interesting in any way. Most have said that it so intricate, but it is not its simple. Evil corporation that is not fully fleshed out does not do what it should. One of its lawyers cries out in the most... (read full)

3/4  Astute and Consistent
I truly wanted to like it more than I did because its dark tone is pitch-perfect, the script is stellar, and the characters are fascinating. In the end, I must admit, I needed that extra "oomph" that could make my heart race. I didn't get ... (read full)

2/4  Sugar coated candy that's empty on the inside
There are far too many inconsistencies during the course of a two hour talking marathon. It’s still a big mystery to me why Clooney is nominated for his performance,I didn't feel he did anything new. Half of the things that happen in this ... (read full)

4/4  Not your typical whistleblower movie
One of the most engrossing movies of the past year, Michael Clayton is the story of Clayton (Clooney), a lawyer who serves as a "fixer" for a firm involved in a huge class action lawsuit. When one of his colleagues Arthur (Wilkinson) goes... (read full)

3/4  Michael Clayton Quick Review
I forget exactly what he says, but there's one line that Clooney says which makes the whole movie worth watching. Damn, I wish I could remember what he says! lol.

3/4  Michael Clayton Quick Review
The movie was tough to follow, but I won't take away credit because it was well done. I feel like it lacked a little bit of that suspense but it still served its purpose.

2.5/4  Michael Clayton Quick Review
I'm not quite sure what it is about this film that keeps it from being good. It just doesn't quite deliver. There are some distracting, poorly developed subplots that are actually irrelevant to the main story. Mediocre at best.

2.5/4  Michael Clayton Quick Review
I liked this film, but didn't love it. Clooney, Wilkinson and Swinton are great and the story is interesting, but it moves rather sluggishly for me. I understand this is more about words than action, but it never grabbed my attention.

3/4  Michael Clayton Quick Review
An underrated film from the past year that people only now have begun to discover. Clooney is magnificent as the title character is is Tom Wilkinson in a great supporting role.

4/5 great Law and Order Criminal Intent casting
  by Cleo
There isn't enough of Tilda Swinton in this movie but what there is of her is very entertaining. I never noticed until this movie that George Clooney has snake eyes most obviously after he runs into his younger brother with his son in the car. This movie has such great line delivery that I listen to the dvd like a radio play.

5/5 Excellent movie
  by L. Stefancic (New York, USA)
Very enjoyable, good characters, interesting plot. Even knowing the plot, I was able to watch the movie again, which is a bug plus for any movie, especially the mystery genre.

5/5 All-Star Thriller -
  by Loyd E. Eskildson (Phoenix, AZ.)
Michael Clayton (George CLooney) is a well-paid corporate "Janitor" or "Fixer". He is a former district attorney he uses his contacts with police and other high ranking public officials to bail out rich corporate clients. He is divorced, a gambler and alcoholic of sorts so tied to the fixer job at Kenner Bach's Law firm.

Michael has his own problems with gambling, which leave him almost broke. He is playing poker one night when he receives a call to drive to Westchester to fix a hit and run problem. After Michael handles the executive involved, he drives back in the early dawn, but suddenly parks and decides to take a walk through a field. As he is looking at some horses his car blows up. The film then flashes back four days to a scene with Michael and a loan shark. He is selling out the bar and restaurant his brother owned and owes $75,000 to cover his brother's debts. A loan shark wants all the money in a week.

Michael is also working with his law firm and their six-year defense against U/North, a conglomerate, and their pesticide use. This involves an important merger. One of the firms top litigators, Arthur Edens, is a manic depressive and goes off his meds, which results in a nervous breakdown. This puts the important case at risk as he is arrested naked in a parking lot in Milwaukee. Michael also soon realizes someone is trying to kill him.

Michael's cute young son, about five years old, is mesmerized by a book with fantasy heros and exciting plots and battles. He is precocious and quotes some exciting parts of the book to Michael when they have time together.

At U/North, the career of litigator Karen Crowder, a top executive is precarious. She realizes her future rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class-action suit that Clayton's firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. However, Kenner Bach's brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces a seemingly insurmountable "fixer" job.

The movie is a smoldering suspense thriller with a superb cast.

4/5 Swinton is "wasted," eh?
  by Jason C. Leroy (San Francisco, CA USA)
I just wanted to take a moment to mock the moron who reviewed this for Amazon. Tilda Swinton is "wasted in a thankless role," eh? If winning an Academy Award isn't thanks enough for an amazing performance, I don't know what more he could expect. This is one of Swinton's most genius performances, specifically BECAUSE she is playing so much against type. She's been quoted as saying she approached her character as though she (Karen) were a bad actress, which essentially she is. "Michael Clayton" is an uncommonly tight and intelligent thriller, but it's Swinton's performance that elevates it to another level.

5/5 Poweful movie--Best George Clooney Film Out There
  by T. Deangelis
George is a middle age lawyer. He has a "niche"; he is a fixer. He "fixes" the problems of the rich and powerful: CEO's, Congressmen, or anybody else with money. He calls himself a "janitor" cleaning up the messes of the well to do. All the while, he is listed in the firm as "wills and trust" attorney. He has been doing this for 15 years, and he is sick of it; he want to do something else, or maybe just be someone else.

He wants out of the world of big shot high powered corporate life. He talks about his "walking away money". But the money disappeared in a bad business deal which is not really explained, a resteruant/bar operation. A family member was the business partner, and was to be blamed. Then there is the muscle or maybe the actually loan shark, he wants his money and is pressuring Clooney, while Cooney liquidates the business.

While this is going on a corporation, U-North, a chemical/pestacide company is facing litigation--massive litigation that Clooney's firm is representing. Things head south and case goes bad, real bad. The corporation calls in a crew and "goes the other way", to terminate the problem lawyer. Clooney gets because he is the firm's fixer. Their methods are stealthy, appear well thought out.

The film itself has powerful actors, a good script. I was not Clooney fan until I saw this film; it has a powerful scene with just Clooney, no words, but a infinite amount of acting skills. The scene blows me away. The film has some great one liners, Sydney Pollack, says" 15 years in and I have to tell you how we pay the bills around here." The film has a massive twist that blows your mind too. I found Clooney's comments about his "walking away money" to be meaningful and even insightful, even if they are simple.

Clooney is struggaling in his mid life; he wants out; I connected with that.

Good film, I believe it received an Oscar.