Michael Clayton

R

Released Oct 12, 2007

2h 0m

Drama

List

90%

Tomatometer

206 Reviews

69%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

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Critics Consensus

Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

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David Fear

Blender

There is a lot to admire in [Michael Clayton] regarding corruption and personal responsibility. You may, however, want to cut out before [the end].

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

The storytelling is so good I simply got caught up, and, as for George, he is seriously, seriously good... Here, his performance is passionate, subtle and right on the money.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Michael Clayton has an important story to tell, but is sometimes overly stifling in its stuffy pretenses.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 10, 2023

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The multifaceted pieces of the film are well orchestrated and the performances strong, although the movie's beginning is somewhat chaotic.

Mar 5, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

This is Clooney at his brooding best, in a solid drama with an ending as explosive as its beginning.

Rated: 7/10

Nov 26, 2020

Full Review

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Audience Member

Awesome movie! One of my favorites of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/24

Full Review

Gur B

Tom Wilkinson is such an actor who plays any character as if everbody can ,but after you finish the movie you realize that nobody can.Well, as Arthur Edens he definitely should've won an oscar! I wish Mr.Gilroy showed us what happened in the parking lot in details :)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

Full Review

Arnold D

Great non-linear story telling. The start is a bit confusing and will leave you unfulfilled if you are not paying attention early on. That being said, the storytelling is phenomenally achieved by the sequence of events. The ending feels gratifying and the viewer is not left unsure until the final moments. Sympathy for the characters slowly builds within the viewer as the film goes on.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

donnie m

i really loved this movie-especially the little boy-michaels son-what a great actor he is

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Yoosik Ethan O

Excellent performances, and a well written legal thriller. The more I watch it, the more it grows on me.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Jonathan L

Great acting, great beginning, great ending, but the middle was a tad dry. Soundtrack was good, fit the style very well. The performances from Clooney and Swinton were really awesome, but the oscar goes to Wilkinson, I mean that oppening monolouge sent chills up my spine, especially paired with the stellar cinematography. If you like long build-up Godfather type drama, it's great, if not, it's good. 77/100

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

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Tony Gilroy

Director

George Clooney

Michael Clayton

Tom Wilkinson

Arthur Edens

Tilda Swinton

Karen Crowder

Sydney Pollack

Marty Bach

Ken Howard

Don Jeffries

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Synopsis

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

Director: Tony Gilroy
Producer: Sydney Pollack, Steve Samuels, Jennifer Fox, Kerry Orent
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Section Eight Ltd., Mirage Enterprises
Rating: R (Some Sexual Dialogue|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2007, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2008
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.0M
Runtime: 2h 0m

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