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Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Michael Clayton’: Big Corporation Kills Its Own Lawyer
Hollywood gets significant cinematic mileage, both documentaries and regular movies, out of storylines involving big corporations covering up devious dealings with cancer-causing chemicals. Similar to 1993’s “The Fugitive” and 2000’s “Erin Brockovich” before it, 2007’s legal suspense thriller “Michael Clayton” is an outstanding example of the genre. Henry Clayton (Austin Williams, L) and dad Michael Clayton (George Clooney) have a heart-to-heart, in “Michael Clayton.” (Warner Bros.)
Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Spy Clayton?
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a highly skilled “fixer” (or “janitor” by his description) for law firm Kenner, Bach, and Ledeen. He’s also a bagman (delivering illegal cash payments), former litigator, legal adviser, and dad. As his detective brother Gene (Sean Cullen) says, the cops think Michael’s a lawyer, the lawyers think Michael’s a
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George Clooney brings a slick, ruthless force to the title role of Michael Clayton, playing a fixer for a powerful law firm. He works in the shadows, cleaning up messes, and he is a realist. He tells clients what they don t want to hear. He shoots down their fantasies of options. One client complains bitterly that he was told Clayton was a miracle worker. I m not a miracle worker, Clayton replies. I m a janitor.
Clooney looks as if he stepped into the role from the cover of GQ. It s the right look. Conservative suit, tasteful tie, clean shaven, every hair in place (except when things are going wrong, which is often). Drives a leased Mercedes. Divorced, drives his son to school, has him on Saturdays. Has a hidden side to his life. Looks prosperous, but lost his shirt on a failed restaurant and needs $75,000 or bad things might happen. Would certainly have $75,000 if he didn t frequent a high-stakes poker game in a back room in Chinatown. Not much of a perso