Starring:
- George Clooney - Michael Clayton
- Tom Wilkinson - Arthur Edens
- Tilda Swinton - Karen Crowder
- Sydney Pollack - Marty Bach
Michael Clayton is a fascinating moral drama wrapped in a legal thriller and anchored by terrific performances.
Michael Clayton is a self-proclaimed “janitor.” He may wear a suit, work for one of the most powerful law firms in the world, and look like George Clooney, but he knows that the sad truth of his job is that he cleans up the powerful messes of powerful people. However, when his friend and fellow "janitor" Arthur apparently has a psychotic break-down, Clayton finds himself trying to save the firm, save his friend, and as the lies and deceit of the case that drove Arthur to madness become evident, save himself.
What makes Michael Clayton so successful as a legal thriller is that it doesn't get bogged down in the law. It doesn't delve into the tired questions of how lawyers who are good people can serve the interests of bad people. The film explores notions of damnation and redemption beyond the structure of the American legal system.
Both the direction and the film's superb editing make for a solid film but it's the performances of Clooney and especially the supporting work of Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton that breathe life into the film and make this moral study rich with personality and character as opposed to a sterile examination.
