Review: Michael Clayton

If there ever was a movie that fit the description “too perfect,” then Michael Clayton is it. This is a slick motion picture that is just oozing in talent; not a frame is out of place, not a line of dialogue is spoken out of turn. Writer/director Tony Gilroy was clearly meticulous in making the film; he almost scientifically positions each scene in its place, as if it were a piece in a cinematic puzzle. In this calculated approach, Gilroy also finds dramatic, climactic performances in the members of his gifted cast, particularly lead George Clooney and supporting actors Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swindon. When analyzed point-for-point, Michael Clayton appears to be nothing short of a masterpiece.

But despite the aforementioned assets, the movie is actually nowhere near as exciting a piece of filmmaking as it might seem. To call Michael Clayton a great film would be a stunning miscalculation. In truth, Gilroy’s concoction is too perfect. He and his cast become so caught up in making a cleverly constructed film with an air-tight plot that they pay no attention to connecting with the audience on an emotional level. Even as far as legal thrillers go, Michael Clayton is far too stark to affect the viewer in the least. The result is a picture that only engages as far as it is able to impress, never creeping its way into the hearts and minds of viewers enough to allow it to elicit a deep response out of them.

-Danny Baldwin, Bucket Reviews

Review Published on: 10.17.2007

Screened on: 10.14.2007 at MovieMax in Carlsbad, CA.

Michael Clayton is rated R and runs 120 minutes.