Michael Clayton (Widescreen Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Tony Gilroy
Actors: George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael O'keefe, Sydney Pollack
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
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Avg. Customer Rating:  219 reviews
Sales Rank: 637
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 119
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: WARD114256D
UPC: 085391142560
EAN: 0085391142560
ASIN: B00121QGPY
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: February 19, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Shipping: International shipping available
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Amazon.com
George Clooney's performance drives this tense corporate thriller from Bourne trilogy screenwriter James Gilroy, who makes his directorial debut here. Clooney is the eponymous "hero," a burnt-out lawyer who cleans up legal messes created by the clients of a large law firm. When a crisis materializes in the form of the firm's top shark (Tom Wilkinson) suffering an apparent meltdown while defending a shady chemical company from lawsuits, Clayton discovers not only a cover-up to deny payments to farmers injured by the company's products, but a chance to find some purpose in the face of his life's downward. Clooney (who also co-produced the film) brings soul and quiet determination to his beleaguered character, and there's excellent support from Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack (also a co-producer), and Michael O'Keefe; Gilroy's script also does a solid job of stacking the deck against Clayton as he attempts to ferret out the truth behind the cover-up. Unfortunately, the film settles for a pat conclusion that, while emotionally satisfying, feels forced and delivers an overly simplistic message (corporations can be bad; morally questionable work can make one feel dirty). And Tilda Swinton is wasted in a thankless role as the chemical company's nerve-wracked and unsympathetic legal counsel. Still, Clooney fans will appreciate this fine addition to his growing roster of flawed heroes. -- Paul Gaita
Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Run time: 119 minutes Rating: R
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| Customer Reviews: Read 214 more reviews...
 Dull with a dash of boring January 4, 2009
2.5 stars. I gave up on this movie the first time, but then a friend told me that I needed to stay with it because it got better. She lied. I didn't find anything about this movie either thrilling or suspenseful. The ending was a little too pact and yet again in a George Clooney movie ( ex. Syriana) I never come to care about the characters. Well, maybe poor Arthur. Clooney does turn in an average performance, but the movie is dull regardless.
 brilliantly dense and subtle December 30, 2008
The film is deliciously dense. It's so clearly a film written to be a film; it treasures the visual medium. Dialogue is often minimal, and the viewer is forced to pay attention. The story is told in the details, and I thought I was missing things at first. It's subtle and seems subdued until the last ten minutes, when all the details and images come together seamlessly. It's a film that gets better the more you think about it; one further realizes how intentional every frame is.
I've enjoyed many of Tony Gilroy's films, but I may have to actually watch The Cutting Edge now. I'm quite curious about the one film that doesn't fit with the rest of his resume.
Overall, I think it was better than No Country for Old Men, which won the Best Picture Oscar. They're certainly both great movies, but at the end of the day, Michael Clayton felt more complete. I'm incredibly partial to movies written to be movies rather than those adapted from books. They're different means of storytelling, and they're not always as compatible as producers seems to think.
George Clooney was good. Tilda Swinton was good. Tom Wilkinson was amazing. Sydney Pollock was great.
Rent it when you're in the mood for an intellectual thriller. Buy it when you realize it hasn't left your head for days. Watch repeatedly.
 The less you know, the better December 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The less you know about civil litigation, the better you'll like Michael Clayton. The film is generally well-acted, though you may wonder why the rather hammy Tom Wilkinson drops into an Irish brogue in his big dramatic scene. George Clooney proves that he can carry a movie; having seen him only in the Ocean's series, I'd thought he was George Hamilton without the tan. Sydney Pollack is quite believable as the managing partner.
The tricky and very arty opening adds little to the film except unnecessary confusion. If you wonder why Clooney goes over toward the horses, that's the director's homage to a much better film, The Asphalt Jungle, which is as taut and believable as this film isn't.
As for the legal background, writer-director James Gilroy didn't even begin to do his homework. Wilkinson's contacts with the plaintiff are as unethical as the evil corporation's withholding of the key document. By the way, the plaintiff would have requested all reports made about the product (duh!), and all Wilkinson had to do was send a copy to opposing counsel, as he would ethically be required to do. Furthermore, when a lawyer begins to have a breakdown during a big case, the firm would bring in a more senior and more experienced partner. Bring in someone who didn't make partner? Only in Hollywood.
A film with the right parts, but ends up being too staged December 10, 2008
The film does have a strong feel and Clooney gives a solid performance. I found Pollack's lawyer especially sharply drawn and convincing. In the end, the movie becomes another rehashing of The Insider. The screenwriter tried to create the typical conflicted sub-plot of the protagonist's battle with his professional/moral obligations and his personal struggles, etc, however this was not highly nuanced. Of course their was the divorced dad angle too for more contrived emotional push. The one liners that are stirring in the trailers turn out be banal in the context of the plot, which turns into a simple-minded rampage of a corporation hell-bent on eliminating all whistle-blowers. As for the attorney who "sees the light", although strongly performed by Wilkinson, his self-revelation becomes cliched scene-by-scene.
Corporate/Suspense...Great Combo! November 20, 2008
I was a bit skeptical about this movie when I first heard about it, but I finally got around to picking it up on Blu Ray. First off let me start by saying this movie is not for people who only want action, explosions, and shootouts. Ill start off with the BD details: The picture is excellent on this film, its smooth and the skin tones have a nice color and smooth texture, the outdoor scenes are very crisp...I was impressed with the picture. The sound is only 5.1 DD, this was a bit disappointing, but got the job done nonetheless. Clear highs, great voice depth, and deep lows when needed...I cant complain to much.
Now onto the movie...I will admit I sat down to watch this and figured it was gonna be slow, however its a good paced slow. I enjoyed the characters, and George Clooney did an excellent job. His position at a huge law firm requires him to be serious and quick on his toes...George does this perfectly and really convinced me.
I found myself enjoying the "thinking" throughout the entire movie, who did this, whats going on with that, it made for a very good experience! I wont give away any spoilers, since they are the best part of this movie. All in all id say this one is definitely worth checking out, you wont be disappointed.
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