Sinister and realistic
Patrick from Cork, 20 Feb 2008
Boy its slow to get into, but stick with it and the payoff is worth it. Clooney underplays his role, as does the BAFTA winning Tilda Swinton, while Tom Wilkinson relishes his apparent mental breakdown.
The film's realism is emphasised in almost every character's confusion and sometimes panic as they cast around for a solution to a particularly unpleasant situation.
A film that'll make you think, and stay with you
10 people out of 10 found this review helpful
tesnse and thrilling
Ciaran from Dublin, 18 Mar 2008
A slow, tense thriller packed with outstanding performances and a plot that requires viewer attention. Clooney buries himself in the part of the law firm 'fixer' who can be brought into any situation and made to make it right for the company or its high-paying clients. Things go out of control however when the companies leading council on a huge $3 Billion lawsuit flips and opens the door for massive breakdown of the case and the law-firm. Deserves the attention it requires.
8 people out of 10 found this review helpful
Michael Clayton
James from Limerick, 22 Oct 2008
Gorgeous George has had a go at Big Oil (Syriana), now has a pop at big chemicals as some sort of sharp suited, conflicted Erin Brockovich. Very brave of the not-so closet socialist. Wake me up when he has the cohones to challenge something genuinely threatening like, say, Islamic extremism…
One the other hand, it is very pretty to look at and Tilda Swinton gives an excellent performance as a newly promoted senior executive “on the edge”. Tom Wilkinson is also very watchable as usual.
3 people out of 6 found this review helpful
Clooney does it again!
Louis from Dublin, 01 Mar 2008
George Clooney racks up another good performance in another fine film. He plays a lawyer who has to weigh his conscience against a dire & pressing personal need for cash. His dilemma, save his own neck or expose a corporate pollution scandal. In Michael Clayton he achieves his stated ambition of making a film that will stand the test of time. Good performances also by Tilda Swinton and, especially, Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack.
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful
Michael Clayton
Emily from Galway, 25 Feb 2008
This is a fantastic film. George Clooney is great as Michael Clayton who is unsure where his alliance lie and just shows that anyone can be bought. He should have won the oscar!!
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful
Michael Clayton
Alan from Dublin, 05 Mar 2008
I really enjoyed this film - it had some great twists and kept me intrigued until the end.
3 people out of 3 found this review helpful
Undeserving Oscar
Feargal from Meath, 05 Mar 2008
As a fan of George Clooney I was really looking forward to seeing this and he gives quite a good performance but the plot is flawed. It plods along, the story does the Hollywood "lets jump retrospectively" to jazz up a turgid script and stretches credibility in places. However, having watched Tilda Swinton pick up an Oscar the previous night for her role in this flick I am left scratching my head as it the least deserved since Barbara Streisand. Worth watching but not worth Oscars.
2 people out of 6 found this review helpful