Review of Michael Clayton (2007) by Ted R — 14 Oct 2010

I was a bit skeptical of this movie. With John Grisham movies you have a story of evil corrupt corporations and law firms with a bleeding heart liberal story and great action. This story was no different.

I have a hard time believing that corporations and law firms are always hiring anonymous hit men and this movie didn't have Grisham's style of suspense and action. So why did I give this movie four stars? This movie is different in some ways.

The pace is slower than say a Grisham action and suspense, but it is a good pace. It fits an interesting character who has set out his lot in life as a lawyer who cleans up bad situations. A janitor. The movie is part of him thinking about his life choices and life itself.

The son plays an interesting part as almost a young prophet who uses a story to point to issues of life and situations that are larger than ourselves. There are moments in the movie where you can feel the weight of Clayton's thoughts.

The main scene being when he walks up the horses in the early morning just before his car explodes. Also the bleeding heart liberal aspect of this movie is not too bad and not too preachy. It doesn't make all attorney's or law firms as wholly corrupt, but understands that there are nuances in situations where who knows what and why and what they do with it makes all the difference in the world.

This movie is a different animal in the legal suspense genre. It isn't Grisham, it isn't Brockovich, and it isn't a Civil Action. It is more artistic than all those movies using pace, moments, metaphors, and great acting to put together a good all around movie.