Do you want to see ‘Michael Clayton’?

Michael Clayton (2007)

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Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 196
Fresh: 177 | Rotten: 19

Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

Average Rating: 7.8/10
Critic Reviews: 38
Fresh: 36 | Rotten: 2

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Movie Info

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) handles all of the dirty work for a major New York law firm, arranging top-flight legal services and skirting through loopholes for ethically questionable clients. But when a fellow "fixer" decides to turn on the very firm they were hired to clean up for, Clayton finds himself at the center of a conspiratorial maelstrom. Once an ambitious D.A., Clayton is now a shell of his former dynamic self, thanks to a divorce, an unfortunate business venture, and

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Tony Gilroy

Written By: Tony Gilroy

In Theaters: Oct 12, 2007 Wide

On DVD: Feb 19, 2008

Box Office:$49.0M

Warner Bros. Pictures

[A] smoldering corporate thriller.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: NPR.org

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Bob Mondello

NPR.org

Top Critic

Confident in the story's power and the moviegoers' intelligence, Gilroy uses only one explosion to own our rapt attention.

October 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Denver Post

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Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Top Critic

A throwback to trim, intelligent moral thrillers like The Verdict and Absence of Malice.

October 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Colin Covert

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

This doesn't begin to deserve the Oscar nominations it's likely to get, but I had a good time with it nonetheless.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment (1)

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Smart and exciting, Michael Clayton takes the audience on a ride whose pleasures almost sneak up on you and are all the more satisfying because of it.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Arizona Republic

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Top Critic

Stop printing the ballots. Don't waste money on those "for your consideration" Oscar ads. There is but one contender for best supporting actor this year, and it is Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel

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Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

There's a lot of skill involved in Michael Clayton and an understated, ambiguous hero that's becoming rare in modern film. Even if under its subtle surface there isn't really much there, the surface is good enough to make it worthwhile.

April 8, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Michael Clayton is a chilling, intense conspiracy thriller, filled with intriguing characters and great performances.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews

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Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Equates serious inquiry with inert filmmaking

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Clooney's latest venture into panache is thriller style in Michael Clayton.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly

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Tony Macklin

Fayetteville Free Weekly

If I had to sum this movie up with one word, it would be tense.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs

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Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Grisham for exceptionally bleeding hearts

August 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

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Dan Jardine

Apollo Guide

Smart, mature legal thriller with a conscience.

July 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

Michael Clayton definitely has its heart in the '70s.

May 1, 2008 Full Review Source: MSNBC

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

Un drama en clave de thriller que logra mantener la tensi�n hasta el final, m�s all� de que no es nada dif�cil anticipar c�mo va a terminar.

April 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Uruguay Total

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Enrique Buchichio

Uruguay Total

Malo je gledatelja koji od prve ne%u0107e shvatiti tko su u filmu pozitivci a tko negativci.

April 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Index.hr

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Dragan Antulov

Index.hr

A killer voice-over by Tom Wilkinson sets the tone for this dramatic thriller, and you're willing to go on the journey even if you don't understand it all the time.

March 3, 2008 Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review

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Jeff Bayer

The Scorecard Review

The cast is outstanding, with Clooney giving the strongest performance of his career, which says a lot since he already has an Oscar

March 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

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Michael A. Smith

Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

...a topflight psychological thriller. (HD DVD and DVD Combo Edition)

March 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

[Tony] Gilroy directs with a cool hand and an underplayed sense of drama, letting the words and the performances carry the film.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: MSN.com

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Sean Axmaker

MSN.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Michael Clayton

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This brilliantly filmed and written lawyer thriller starts out slow and a bit confusing, not exactly allowing an easy access to the story. One a car blows up and we go four days into the past things start to get much clearer and develop an inescapable undertow, getting more exciting by the minute and delivering a mean

October 3, 2007

Jens S.

Super Reviewer

A solid corporate thriller with great performances from Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and George Clooney. If you're at all interested in movies about the shady dealings and ruthlessness of big companies with billions and secrets to protect, you'll probably like this. It took a while for the plot to get going, but

February 29, 2008

Lewis C.

Super Reviewer

Michael Clayton Quotes

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1. Michael Clayton: Im Sheeva, the god of death!
– Submitted by Aron B (50 days ago)
1. Michael Clayton: The police don't call.
– Submitted by Annie A (3 months ago)
1. Michael Clayton: I'm not the guy you kill. I'm the guy you buy! Are you so fucking blind that you don't even see what I am? I sold out Arthur for 80 grand. I'm your easiest problem and you're gonna kill me?
– Submitted by Alejandro O (7 months ago)
1. Michael Clayton: You're so fucked. Here let me get a picture while I'm at it.
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)
1. Michael Clayton: Do I look like I'm negotiating?
– Submitted by Chris P (9 months ago)

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