Michael Clayton

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Michael Clayton

R

2007

2h 0m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

202 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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David Fear

Blender

09/08/2023

There is a lot to admire in [Michael Clayton] regarding corruption and personal responsibility. You may, however, want to cut out before [the end].

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

The storytelling is so good I simply got caught up, and, as for George, he is seriously, seriously good... Here, his performance is passionate, subtle and right on the money.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

4/5

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

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

10/10/2023

3/4

Michael Clayton has an important story to tell, but is sometimes overly stifling in its stuffy pretenses.

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

03/05/2021

The multifaceted pieces of the film are well orchestrated and the performances strong, although the movie's beginning is somewhat chaotic.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/26/2020

7/10

This is Clooney at his brooding best, in a solid drama with an ending as explosive as its beginning.

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W.L. C.

@WayneCampbell 21h

"Michael Clayton" is one of the films I missed while working two jobs to keep my family out of destitution 20 years ago. I finally got around to it; I probably could've waited another 20. I'm all for a slow burn, but this is a pot that never boils. A stacked cast in a tepid film. The score is reminiscent of a lullaby and the color palette is so beige it may as well be wallpaper in a vacant hospital. Tony Gilroy is a gifted writer, but this one is a wet fart at best.

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Costantino D.

@CosMovie May 28

Masterpiece in every way.

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Jeff C

@Popsstargell79 May 8

A perfect film. The writing is superb and the performances from Clooney, Wilkinson, Swinton, Pollack are sublime.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1

Success in 2 hours. Rated R for Some Sexual Dialogue and Language. Academy Award winner in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton).

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Stoner J

@Stoner Feb 27

Not nearly as good as the Lincoln Lawyer. And the ending isn’t great. But it’s a decent watch

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Zola L

@ZolaL Feb 3

A fine performance from Clooney, an actor I have never really been keen on as he always seems to play the same personna under a different guise. But here he goes through various emotional transformations, and that behind the nice suits, fast cars and legal mind, he is just another vulnerable man with weaknesses, regrets and bitter memories. Great supporting performances, especially from the ever-dependable Sydney Pollack, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton. But special mention also goes to Austin Williams, who plays Henry, the son to Michael Clayton. There are various scenes where he has to roll out 5 or 6 lines in one take, and not easy lines either. Wasn't all that keen on the last 20 odd minutes other than the final confrontation between Clayton and Karen Crowder. But the directing debut by Tony Gilroy, who also wrote the script, was as an absolute joy.

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Tony Gilroy

Director

George Clooney

Michael Clayton

Tom Wilkinson

Arthur Edens

Tilda Swinton

Karen Crowder

Sydney Pollack

Marty Bach

Ken Howard

Don Jeffries

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Synopsis

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

Director: Tony Gilroy
Producer: Sydney Pollack, Steve Samuels, Jennifer Fox, Kerry Orent
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Mirage Enterprises, Section Eight Ltd.
Rating: R (Some Sexual Dialogue|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2007, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2008
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.0M
Runtime: 2h 0m