Michael Clayton

Michael Clayton (2007)

tomatometer

90

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 197
Fresh: 178 | Rotten: 19

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.

95

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Critic Reviews: 43
Fresh: 41 | Rotten: 2

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.

audience

72

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 246,953

My Rating

Movie Info

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) handles all of the dirty work for a major New York law firm, arranging top-flight legal services and skirting through loopholes for ethically questionable clients. But when a fellow "fixer" decides to turn on the very firm they were hired to clean up for, Clayton finds himself at the center of a conspiratorial maelstrom. Once an ambitious D.A., Clayton is now a shell of his former dynamic self, thanks to a divorce, an unfortunate business venture, and

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Tony Gilroy

Feb 19, 2008

$49.0M

Warner Bros. Pictures - Official Site External Icon

Michael Clayton Trailer & Photos

More Photos (29)
More Trailers and Videos (9)

Cast

Critic Reviews for Michael Clayton

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All Critics (197) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (187) | Rotten (20) | DVD (27)

[A] smoldering corporate thriller.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: NPR.org
Bob Mondello
NPR.org
Top Critic IconTop Critic

By now, George Clooney is so smooth, he could be a brand name like Gillette or Ex-Lax.

January 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Time Out New York
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out New York
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Confident in the story's power and the moviegoers' intelligence, Gilroy uses only one explosion to own our rapt attention.

October 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Denver Post
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A throwback to trim, intelligent moral thrillers like The Verdict and Absence of Malice.

October 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This doesn't begin to deserve the Oscar nominations it's likely to get, but I had a good time with it nonetheless.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment (1)
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Smart and exciting, Michael Clayton takes the audience on a ride whose pleasures almost sneak up on you and are all the more satisfying because of it.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Arizona Republic
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There's a lot of skill involved in Michael Clayton and an understated, ambiguous hero that's becoming rare in modern film. Even if under its subtle surface there isn't really much there, the surface is good enough to make it worthwhile.

April 8, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net
Joshua Starnes
ComingSoon.net

Michael Clayton is a chilling, intense conspiracy thriller, filled with intriguing characters and great performances.

July 7, 2010 Full Review Source: Matt's Movie Reviews
Matthew Pejkovic
Matt's Movie Reviews

Equates serious inquiry with inert filmmaking

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

Clooney's latest venture into panache is thriller style in Michael Clayton.

February 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly

If I had to sum this movie up with one word, it would be tense.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

Grisham for exceptionally bleeding hearts

August 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | Comment (1)
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

Smart, mature legal thriller with a conscience.

July 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Cynthia Fuchs
Common Sense Media

Michael Clayton definitely has its heart in the '70s.

May 1, 2008 Full Review Source: MSNBC
Alonso Duralde
MSNBC

Un drama en clave de thriller que logra mantener la tensi�n hasta el final, m�s all� de que no es nada dif�cil anticipar c�mo va a terminar.

April 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Uruguay Total
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total

Malo je gledatelja koji od prve ne%u0107e shvatiti tko su u filmu pozitivci a tko negativci.

April 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Index.hr | Comment (1)
Dragan Antulov
Index.hr Source: Index.hr

A killer voice-over by Tom Wilkinson sets the tone for this dramatic thriller, and you're willing to go on the journey even if you don't understand it all the time.

March 3, 2008 Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

The cast is outstanding, with Clooney giving the strongest performance of his career, which says a lot since he already has an Oscar

March 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Michael A. Smith
Nolan's Pop Culture Review Source: Nolan's Pop Culture Review

...a topflight psychological thriller. (HD DVD and DVD Combo Edition)

March 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
John J. Puccio
Movie Metropolis

[Tony] Gilroy directs with a cool hand and an underplayed sense of drama, letting the words and the performances carry the film.

February 28, 2008 Full Review Source: MSN.com
Sean Axmaker
MSN.com

Audience Reviews for Michael Clayton

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Corporate greed's at the middle of this look at the behind the scenes legal wrangling in a wrongful death lawsuit, greed vs. morality.
The leads are good (especially
Swinton) even if the pace is slow at first, so distracting.
April 5, 2013
UniversalDreamer
Universal Dreamer

Super Reviewer

The standard of filmmaking in ''Michael Clayton'' is impeccable. The plot threads tie together wonderfully, the performances from Clooney, Swinton and Wilkinson are outstanding and the tension that runs throughout the film is so high. Gilroy's script is wonderful with such hard-hitting dialogue and the development of each character is incredibly solid. If you're looking for a superbly assembled and suspenseful drama, ''Michael Clayton'' is as perfect as you could get.
February 14, 2013
Liam Gadd
Liam Gadd

Super Reviewer

Michael Clayton Quotes

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    1. Michael Clayton: Im Sheeva, the god of death!
    – Submitted by Aron B (16 months ago)
    1. Michael Clayton: The police don't call.
    – Submitted by Annie A (18 months ago)
    1. Michael Clayton: I'm not the guy you kill. I'm the guy you buy! Are you so fucking blind that you don't even see what I am? I sold out Arthur for 80 grand. I'm your easiest problem and you're gonna kill me?
    – Submitted by Alejandro O (21 months ago)
    1. Michael Clayton: You're so fucked. Here let me get a picture while I'm at it.
    – Submitted by Chris P (23 months ago)
    1. Michael Clayton: Do I look like I'm negotiating?
    – Submitted by Chris P (23 months ago)

Discussion Forum

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