Saturday, October 20, 2007

World's Shortest Movie Review: "Michael Clayton"

Somewhat Like: Network, Erin Brokovich (not surprising; Steven Soderbergh is one of the co-producers)
Summary: Brilliant lawyer Arthur Eden (Tom Wilkinson) has a spectacular meltdown while defending a gigantic agribusiness corporation called U-North against charges that one of their herbicides is killing people. The firm sends a gambling-addicted flunky named Michael Clayton(George Clooney) to baby-sit him. Very gradually, Clayton begins to wonder if Eden is really batshit crazy, or just fed up with defending the indefensible.
The upside: A+ performances from Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton as frazzled U-North executive Karen Crowder, and Sydney Pollack as Eden's and Clayton's boss. Clayton's little fantasy-obsessed son is also a great character - without realizing it, he has more insight into the adult world than all the adults put together.
The downside: The title character is by far the least interesting one. But, let's face it, putting Tom Wilkinsons's mug on the poster doesn't sell as many tickets.

5 comments:

Wandering Coyote said...

Hm. The CBC called Wilkinson's acting "over the top." Now, I like him in general, but Clooney doesn't do a frigging thing for me. I'll probably give it a miss - which isn't hard since nothing decent comes to the boonies anyway.

S.M. Elliott said...

Wilkinsons' was definitely an over-the-top character, but he did beautifully with it. The only actor who was a little iffy for the first half of the film was Sydney Pollack - kind of flat.

Clooney does nothing for me either! He reminds me of Cary Grant; I recognize that he's conventionally attractive, but that's about it.

Anonymous said...

Just not at all excited to see movies about lawyers. I can just imagine someone in another country thinking everyone in America must either be a lawyer, a cop, or a doctor.

And George Clooney doesn't impress me as an actor. He's just not that good. I don't see why so many people like him.

S.M. Elliott said...

Don't forget the hitmen. Judging by Hollywood movies, you'd swear the U.S. was just crawling with hitmen.

tshsmom said...

Clooney is eye-candy, period. The only box office draw he has, is for us old ladies. Works for me! ;)