Michael Clayton (2007) — Read Along
“I am Shiva, the God of Death”
“I’m not a miracle worker. I’m a janitor”.
From a blank opening screen and simple Michael Clayton we merge into slow cuts of an empty office complex late at night, with only occasional floors lit and occupied by cleaning staff. In the background is a panicky narration describing a long career, for one law firm, and how a recent re-birth had changed him after “being coated in a patina of shit for the best part of my life”. Containing three of my favourite actors, it’s quickly become a personal favourite film.
So, starting with the star of the show:
“Michael Clayton” (George Clooney) His first appearance comes after a long, moving camera shot (becoming a camera theme for the film) as it pans around a poker table. A “fixer” or Janitor of problems, he appears assured and in control. A methodical professional. His persona is subtly different away from his profession and sometimes brilliantly underplayed by Clooney. A back story of brotherly debts and a love for his son “Henry” (an excellent Austin Williams) but extended close ups and long lingering shots on Clooney steal the film.
A brilliant assured performance.
“Karen Crowder” (Tilda Swinton) Her first appearance is of a distressed and unsettled woman, panicking and sweating in a toilet cubicle and what follows is a quickly edited nuance of her personality as we cut quickly between her preparations for a TV interview in her hotel bathrobe and the actual interview itself. Every detail is meticulously prepared beforehand and executed in front of the cameras. It’s a performance, a practice and detailed preparation as every forced smile and stutter step is in time with her narration and in time with the presentation for the camera. Brilliantly shot and edited together, it’s Swinton’s performance that shines as she’s pitch perfect in vastly different settings and scenes throughout.
“Arthur Edens” (Tom Wilkinson) His first appearance, a dual scene with Clooney, sets the bar for this thunderous performance yet again from Tom Wilkinson. In his prison cell, his schizophrenic and panicked portrayal absolutely riveting, he astounds as he describes “12% of my life” and his descent into a seemingly dark world where he has become “Shiva, the God of Death”. His downward spiral is brilliantly shown albeit briefly, but also with a very definite showing of his varying mental position, his telephone conversation with Clayton’s son Henry very telling. Never more so than in his journey to Times Square, his complete satisfaction and happiness shattered by a billboard advertisement. Schizophrenic, frenetic, twitchy and sketchy.
A sublime performance from Wilkinson.
With Sydney Pollack excellent in support as “Marty Bach”, a beautiful mournful “hum” of a musical score from James Newton Howard and excellent editing from brother John Gilroy, this debut cinematic feature from Director Tony Gilroy is a joy. Never rushed at exactly at two hours which is a perfect length for the story, and indeed the storytelling. With a twisted narrative, from the very beginning of the film it runs at it’s prescribed pace, is stylish and brilliantly shot by Director of Photography Robert Elswit. At times, the film is redolent in constant shadows and reflections and a sublime metaphor for the film as a whole.
The timing and pace of the film is key too. With so much information and character building in the background with conversations becoming a narration, and vice versa, the film moves at a good pace and engages you from the very beginning. Every character has an obvious duality, yet subtle sub plots have to be picked apart and a first Act that is breathless at times and near flawless. A prolific writer, this debut Director performance is brilliant from Gilroy, showing a real love for his writing creation and a real eye for a meticulously drawn out scene.
As above, some of the flourishes are subtle but allied to four outstanding performances, this is a treat of a film and a first class directorial debut film from Gilroy which rightfully garnered both him and his stars 7 Oscar Nominations. Gilroy himself was nominated in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay categories and James Newton Howard’s beautiful musical score was also nominated. All three main stars were also nominated with George Clooney as Best Actor in a Leading Role, Tom Wilkinson as Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Tilda Swinton winning as Best Supporting Actress. What better recommendation(s) could you have?
A brief appraisal but this truly is a wonderful film that may surprise you.
Hopefully with an appetite duly whetted for more, you dear reader now have a choice.
You can either:
(a) Read my entire review of “Michael Clayton” via the first link above but this time with an altogether different opening and original pictures.
(b) Treat yourself to any and/or all of the 3 films in the career of director Tony Gilroy and my spoiler free love-in treatment of them all.
(c) Watch either of my Youtube or Rumble channel videos as I read my own spoiler free review of the film (@TheBlackfordBookClub), hence the “Read Along” moniker.
or (d) Treat yourself to any combination of the above or even (e) disappear to pastures new within our collective electrical Matrix of doom.
Oh, and (f) There’s also a link to Volume 7 of my “Essential Film Reviews Collection” (where you’ll find “Michael Clayton” among many, many more) packaged in my e-book and Kindle series on Amazon.
All 7 volumes are FREE to read if you have an Amazon Kindle “Unlimited” package.
Thanks for reading. If you like the premise of the idea of “Read Along”, then you might also enjoy:
