Michael Clayton

2007 • 119 minutes
4.4
379 reviews
90%
Tomatometer
R
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. At the behest of the firm's co- founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack), Clayton, a former prosecutor from a family of cops, takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen's dirtiest work. Clayton cleans up clients' messes, handling anything from hit-and-runs and damaging stories in the press to shoplifting wives and crooked politicians. Though burned out and discontented in his job, Clayton is inextricably tied to the firm. At the agrochemical company U/North, the career of in-house chief counsel Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the settlement of the suit that Kenner, Bach & Ledeen is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. When the firm's top litigator, the brilliant Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), has an apparent breakdown and tries to sabotage the entire case, Marty Bach sends Michael Clayton to tackle this unprecedented disaster and, in doing so, Clayton comes face to face with the reality of who he has become. MPAA Rating: R (c) 2007 Warner Bros. Entertainment. All Rights Reserved
Rating
R

Ratings and reviews

4.4
379 reviews
elizabeth ellis
March 1, 2017
Entertaining, but not one of those movies you text your friend about. If Clooney wasn't the actor, I doubt this would be interesting at all. Don't watch this for an engaging plot, but its better than looking around for a while to find a movie. Not a movie to watch with friends. They may not be interested. Clooney is good though. If you like him a lot, theres a ninety percent chance you'll give this movie at least three stars.
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Pete Quigley
January 13, 2020
Excellent performances by Clooney and Swinton, but - for me - especially by Pollack and Tom Wilkinson. I come back to this movie time and time again and enjoy it every time. So much better than all the puerile nonsense generated about car chases and mass murder with automatic firearms.
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Zenn Loo
September 8, 2016
Jerry Maguire meets John grisham in this high stakes legal drama with celebrity star power. Swinton steals the show when it comes to who put on the more intriguing performance between her and Clooney. Well written and played, moments of suspense and star charisma. I have no major objections aside from an unresolved prologue.
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