Michael Clayton (DVD, 2008, Widescreen)

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is all stressed out. He is a trial lawyer, but in his firm he has been placed in the position of a "fixer." A fixer takes care of problems that the firm's clients have gotten themselves into, sometimes illegally.

We get the idea early in this 2007 movie when he is called to help a hit and run driver who has all kinds of excuses for what he did--fog, a curving road, a jogger dressed in black who suddenly appeared, poor lighting due to sodium lamps, etc.

Michael is considered excellent at what he does. But his personal life is an absolute mess. He is close to bankruptcy due to gambling problems and a bad investment in a bar to help his deadbeat brother. He is a divorced father of a brilliant son; his x-wife has remarried and she has custody. He is behind on his rent, and his father is dying.

But the main focus of the movie is on Michael's attempt to fix the firm's defense of a class action lawsuit for the client U North that is headed by a very nervous Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton). U North is a farm chemical firm that knowingly has poisoned many of its farmer-clients through the chemicals they produce and sell. The firm's main lawyer Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) has had a meltdown and is rumored to be selling out to the prosecution. Enter Michael Clayton to help straighten out this brilliant lawyer.

This movie was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and won 1. Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress as the evil but very nervous head of U North. We get to see her sweating and preparing her lines as she goes to all of her meetings, and we especially see her sweat at the end of the movie.

Additionally, the movie was nominated for Best Actor (Clooney), Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

This movie is complicated and requires your absolute attention. It repeats some of the beginning scenes of the movie at the end of the movie. By then, you have almost forgotten about them. It is a very thrilling ride and is much in the realm of other evil corporation movies like "The Fugitive" and "Erin Brokovich".

Great movie starring George Clooney as Michael Clayton. Clayton is a legal
"fixer" and in this movie becomes involved with a former friend and client
who is involved in a case with a agro-chemical company that is attempting to
hide something. Clayton uses all his people "connections" in order to try
to find out what is happening in a suspense filled movie. A great finish to
the movie comes as Clayton finds his own life in danger. Definitely a must
see movie.

That mixes great acting with a stellar script and shocking scenes left and right..I wa sunsure of this flick at first actually passed on it several times before buying it for $5...George Clooney is great as a trial lawyer reduced to more or less an invetsigating job where he cleans up messes caused by rich jerks and corporate a***s.. as Michael Clayton discovers a huge coverup he is forced to fight back or die the ending made even the slow parts worth the time spent..everyone is this great flick did their part and did it perfectly..from the good guys right down to the bad guys..which is which is the real question and Michael better find out who's who and quick! A fun edge of your seat thriller you're sure to love!! 5 out of 5 bars!!

When they say that 'they don't make em like this anymore" this movie is exactly what they are talking about. Michael Clayton is a challenging, finely crafted film that has no easy answers. The acting is beyond superb. The direction is lovely as well. There is not one scene in the whole film where you won't believe the actors or question their choices. I won't give any spoilers about the plot but if you want to see a film that is uncompromizing in its vision, then I strongly recommend Michael Clayton!

I really enjoyed this movie. The plot was different and you had to watch carefully,but it was worth it. George Clooney wasn't one of my favorite actors but I've changed my mind since watching him in this movie.Just buy it. Get it cheaper on E-bay like i did that way if you don't like it you haven't paid full price. Great movie.