Iffy for 16+
Smart, mature legal thriller isn't meant for kids.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that that although teens might be interested in this mature thriller thanks to star George Clooney, it's definitely aimed at adults. Fast-talking and complicated, it deals with complex issues like corporate corruption, toxic consumer products, and legal manipulation. An empty car explodes twice (the first time is a flashforward), and a murder is committed very coldly (by needle, with the killers attacking the victim in his apartment). A woman appears in her bra and slip, with visible cleavage, and a male lawyer undressing (down to his underwear) during a deposition is a significant plot point. Language includes many uses of "f--k," plus other profanity.
- Families can talk about what makes this movie for adults, as opposed to kids or even teens. Is it the subject matter? The dialogue? What do you need to know or understand in order to be able to "get" a movie like this? Families can also discuss the idea of right vs. wrong. Is it always easy to tell which is which? What does Michael do that's "right" in this movie? What does he do that's "wrong"?
What to watch for
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Violence: Michael's car explodes when he's at a distance; he turns to see it (this is a flashforward the first time it occurs, then appears again later). A man is attacked by two others, who drug and kill him, methodically and disturbingly (they inject his foot with poison, wait for him to die, check his pulse, then put his sock and shoe back on).
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Sex: Michael says his brother "knocked up" a waitress. Karen appears in her bra, showing cleavage. Several references to Arthur stripping during a deposition (a sign of his insanity); a grainy video of the event shows him upset and removing his clothes down to his boxers as he declares his love for the deposition witness. Slangy description of Arthur "with [his] d--k hanging out." Arthur describes being in a whorehouse with two prostitutes (he says they were "sucking my d--k," and reports "two Lithuanian mouths on my c--k").
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Language: Lots of angry language, including more than 20 uses of "f--k," plus several uses of "s--t," "hell," and "damn," and fewer of "son of a bitch" and "ass." Occasional slang for genitals ("c--k," "d--k," and "c--t").
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Consumerism: Repeated clips from a promotional film for the film's central fictional company, U/North; fancy cars (Jaguar, BMW).
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Several characters smoke cigarettes. Several references to Michael's brother's alcoholism (which adversely affected the restaurant they tried to start); characters drink in bars; Michael drinks several times. Brief glimpse of prescription pills in a medicine cabinet.
Fan Reviews provided by
3
Michael Clayton by Daydream
George Clooney is as charismatic as ever in the role of Michael Clayton. In plain words he is a legal firm's "fixer-upper", playing a role similar to that of Aaron Eckart in Thank You For Smoking (although not funny). This movie is made out to be very serious almost like an actual class-action lawsuit. The case begins to build on itself, continues to build and then eventually comes to a conclusion. The movie dragged on trying to "build the case" and finally came to in the final 30 minutes of the film. Slow movie with a good ending...
5
Loved the film - a classic thriller by dreyno9999
Having worked in the legal profession many years it is hard to imagine that this film can take something that on the surface is so boring and make it into a suspenseful thriller that is not only exciting but plausible. This is a lean film with purposeful moments. Well crafted, well acted and the kind of film that reminds me of why I go to the movies. Bravo !!!!
5
Michael Clayton by redwoodstreet
I really liked this movie. It's intelligent and full of suspense.
5
Well Done by MaureenMurnane
Intelligent script and an interesting novel story kept me intrigued throughout the movie. Very well acted. I can't remember when I've seen a movie that succeeded so well on the fundamentals without using gratuitous sex to prop up interest. Well Done.
5
Michael Clayton by carrera178411
George Clooney gave the best performance of his career. Tom Wilkinson is brilliant as well. Sidney Pollack and George Clooney perform a killer act working together. The plot is full of twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It might be a bit long, but definitely worth the effort. Highly recommend.
5
a very smart film. by rosettamarie
What I love about Michael Clayton is that I didn't completely understand every detail, but I still "got it". I began watching this movie knowing that I do not like its genre; there is much on the side of legal situations that I simply do not comprehend. However, what is so gripping about this very smart thriller is its analysis of both insanity and reality. The screenplay is centered on its words, as opposed to action, and thus conveys much more than the average legal/crime thriller. George Clooney is excellent as always, and the final scene, superimposed by credits, provides a thought-provoking end.
My only complaint regards Tilda Swinton's Oscar win because I found that Tom Wilkinson was much more deserving of a win in his category. I do understand the "silent evil" that Tilda presents in her character, but I think it was a rather forgettable performance. Wilkinson's, on the other hand, was haunting and really establishes the true essence of the film.
5
If you have any doubts about lawyers being scum, watch this film. by MakubaJack
Those without sight we call "blind".
Those without hearing we call "deaf".
Those without speech we call "mute".
Those without a conscience we call "attorneys".
Lawyers are nothing more than conscienceless mercenaries of greed, and this fine film makes that point rather adroitly. Every blue moon there's a story about an attorney that was actually born with a conscience- that's what this film is about.
3
Well-Done, Interesting and SLOW by IrvThal
Most "modern" audiences won't be able to sit through "Michael Clayton," which plays out like a take-your-time thriller from the 1970s. That's exactly the right tone, but it's so far from what today's audiences are used to, they'll have difficulty following the complicated story. This is a slow, leisurely paced movie, though it does build tension and interest throughout. As a thriller, it's a relatively decent legal drama, something that might play out on one of the better episodes of "Law & Order," but certainly not anything we haven't seen before. Where "Michael Clayton" SHOULD excel is its central character -- though Michael Clayton himself remains a bit of a cypher. His domestic troubles might SEEM to add something to his character, but they really don't. He's just not a particularly interesting guy, nor are his yuppie concerns easy to identify with. The internal revelation that should shake both him and the audience isn't all that compelling. Good ... but why all the fuss?
5
Husband's turn to choose movie by wayfun
So, thought I'd just support my husbands choice for a movie and made a decision to like it, even before we arrived.
An extraordinary film. In all ways. The cinematography was breathtaking, the character development was meticulous, yet subtle. A level of tension was kept at a medium to high level pretty much throughout the entire film, which made the attention required to follow the smart and sophisticated story line seem effortless.
An academy award performance was created by George Clooney. The last scene, was genius. Clooney's speechless performance, at the very end, as a few primary credits rolled, quietly and with little adieu, along the right side of the screen is not to be missed.
A film goers little slice of artistic heaven. Don't miss it.
4
Heaven Can Wait by Daggnabbit
Michael Clayton is the story of one man forced to redemption against the backdrop of corporate misdeeds and societal complacency. Gorgeous George Clooney drops his sheen and uses his Golden Boy standing to help us immediately understand the shadowy nuance of Michael Clayton's role as a "fixer" for a law firm that is representing one of the nations largest agri-conglomerates. Tilda Swinton is amazing as an all too human Beelzebub to Clayton's world weary Pan. We've seen this story before but in our culture of excess and the national psyche of going along to get along the film asks us to wake up before we lose the only thing of real value that we have left to hold on to. For the soulless Masters of the Universe who populate Clayton's world (a world ripped from our healines and blogs) it may be too late.