RateItAll: The Opinion Network

A real rarity these days-- an exciting, intelligently-written, well-acted and fast-paced movie for thinking and sentient adults. While I like Clooney as a person (I know a woman who was working in NY with a young choral group where and when this was being filmed, and she said Clooney came over to interact with the group, signed autographs for everyone, and couldn't have been nicer or more down-to-earth), I've never thought he was the best actor in the world, but he's getting better in every picture I see him in. I'm beginning to think he's the current generation's answer to Paul Newman. Newman started his career as an impossibly handsome young man who was an adequate actor, but not much more. By the time of "The Verdict" it was impossible to deny that he had grown into a greatly accomplished and skilled thespian. Whether Clooney will ever become a "great" actor or merely a very good one is beyond my ability to predict, but if he keeps appearing in films as compelling as this one, he'll most definitely have a "fan" in me. There are unquestionably excellent actors in the cast, especially Tom Wilkinson as the manic-depressive lawyer with a conscience, and Tilda Swinton as the cold-blooded corporate mouthpiece-- she's chilling but Swinton is adept enough at her craft to keep the character from becoming a cliche or less-than-a-human-being (which, perhaps surprisingly, makes the character that much more terrifying than if she had been played as a mere symbol-- think how many such people there so obviously and distressingly are in the world of politics and business?). In the same way, Clooney plays Clayton, the film's ostensible "hero", also as a very flawed, very credible human being. Clooney's and Swinton's characters are on opposite sides of the moral spectrum, but they're never less than genuine, and their dilemmas, motivations and conflicts are never less than plausible. If they made more "popular" movies like this nowadays, I'd still be a regular paying customer at the local cineplex. Unfortunately, the local cineplex is more than likely playing "Horton Hears A Who" or the latest Adam Sandler "comedy". Sad, especially when you see what Hollywood actually can accomplish when it wants to. (In the interests of full disclosure, I should say that a co-worker I discussed the movie with was less impressed with it than I was. He didn't dislike it, but he said they could have cut out 15 or 20 minutes without any sacrifices in plot or characterization. I strongly disagree. I actually wish it had been a little longer.)

Michael Clayton is an excellent film, and George Clooney's performance is first-rate. It's very engaging, creates a gritty mood, and sustains interest throughout. The plot is nicely done. One of the better films of the year.

I saw this movie two nights ago and I'm still amped up about it. It's about a lawyer (Clooney) and his attempts to contain the fallout from what at first appears to be a stress-induced mental breakdown on the part of his friend/colleague. From its chronological layout, to the backdrop for its end credits, this movie one of a kind. I'd say more but don't want to risk giving anything away.