Michael Clayton

It all comes down to this question: Is it the story or the acting that makes a film great? Ideally, you want both, but if you had to choose. I guess you have to factor in dialogue as well. I mean look at Star Wars, the story was great and Harrison Ford did the best he could with the cheesy lines written by George Lucas. I’m sure some will disagree. But is the plot that important? In any case, I bring this up because of the acting quality found in Michael Clayton. I found that the story dragged and was not that compelling but the performances were nothing short of awesome.

I find myself constantly impressed with the work of George Clooney. Maybe because of his television roles on Roseanne and ER and even early films like The Peacemaker and One Fine Day, I always peg him as just a pretty-boy actor with a great deal of charm. I think it was his role in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, that made me reconsider my position. And now it just seems that George Clooney can do no wrong (I’m thinking of films post-Batman & Robin). I don’t think it’d be much of a stretch to say that Clooney does some of his best work in Michael Clayton. He does an excellent job of playing the title role, a law firm “fixer” whose life is falling apart. Clooney portrays a perfect blend of confidence and weakness in many of his scenes. It’s not an over-the-top powerhouse performance that usually garners Oscar nominations but it certainly is a study in subtlety and I hope it does get recognized during this year’s award season.

Tom Wilkinson (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, In the Bedroom) seems to be the go-to guy for older characters that are both quirky and intense. Wilkinson has the ability to grab you from his first line. He is able to show such vulnerability in his character almost forcing the audience to empathize with him. I wish he had more scenes in this film, especially considering his chemistry with Clooney. And he’s not the only one who works well with George. If you need a wealthy, no-nonsense mentor in a movie, you can always count on Sydney Pollack (Eyes Wide Shut, Changing Lanes). While Pollack is more known for his strong directing (The Interpreter, The Firm, Tootsie, Out of Africa), he is just as strong in front of the camera. I love watching him on the screen.

The last of the big performances in Michael Clayton, is the face of the evil corporation, played by Tilda Swinton (Chronicles of Narnia, Constantine). I find that Swinton has a very interesting face. In most movies, she conveys such cold-heartedness, and while there are some scenes like that in this film, there are plenty of moments where we can see her Karen Crowder character at the end of her rope. I found she had to walk the same line between confidence and weakness as Clooney had throughout this film. As one of the only females in the film, she definitely held her own among the strong male performances.

My only issue with Michael Clayton is the dragging storyline. Considering this film was written and directed by Tony Gilroy who is responsible for writing the Bourne screenplays, I was expecting a little more action. However, the plot involving some shady business dealings just meanders along as Clooney’s character tries to get to the bottom of the scandal. I had no problem with the plot being simple; it just seemed too long to get to the point. Luckily, I was distracted by the rich dialogue Gilroy gave to his characters. This is definitely a talky film. And that is just fine with me in the hands of these gifted performers.

In conclusion, I would recommend Michael Clayton as a study guide for some great acting. At the same time, I think you should wait for it on DVD and enjoy this drama at home. Of course, if this film should get some Oscar recognition, you may want to see it in the theatres so you can see what everyone is talking about. It may not get screenplay honours but I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple acting nominations arise. We’ll have to wait and see.