Michael Clayton is the debut directorial feature from long time Hollywood screen writer Tony Gilroy, the writer behinde the 'Bourne' series and the writer of this film also. He has without a doubt created a film worthy of the 'thriller' tag.
The film centres around a law firm in New York city and it's main 'Fixer' Michael Clayton, a man who takes care of the firms dirty work outside of the court room. When a fellow attorney Arthur Edens finds some damning evidence against a huge company named U-north things begins to spiral out of control. Edens has the evidence and is seemingly going to release it to the public, something the companys own lead attorney Karen Crowder has to prevent at any cost, but with Edens seemingly losing his mind things go from bad to worse for the central characters.
This film relies heavily on the performances of its main players and to a certain degree they deliver, especially George Clooney as the title character, a burnt out man with a failed marriage and failed business behinde him with his drug addicted brother, he is at rock bottom, struggling with money issues and his own job. Clooney really is on form here. Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder is also watchable, a seemingly callous individual who will stop at nothing to put a lid on the evidence that could ruin U-north. But the surprise here is certainly Tom Wilkinson as Arthur Eden, he really puts his all into his characters and has some great scenes, one with Clooney that takes place in an alleway is a definate highlight.
All this plays out relatively well, first time director Gilroy handles his script with relative ease and has crafted a thriller which is watchable for is entire run time, keeping you guessing and leaving you in the hands of the characters to keep your interest up. All of this plays out against a dull dank back drop, reminding us that this is a world where under handed tactics are ones that will get you ahead and the characters world is a very bleak a cold one.
This is helped by the cinematography of Robert Elswit, who is no stranger to working with Clooney having directed photography of his directorial feature 'Good Night and Good Luck' and also the Clooney starrer 'Syriana'. He has crafted a lighting technique that causes things at times to play out in soft focus, a nod toward the characters lack of clarity in this unscrupulous world they inhabit.
The supporting cast are also great, especially Sydney Pollock as Michael's long time co-worker Marty Bach, who knows that Clayton is the best at what he does in the legal world. This is a worthy thriller with some genuine moments, whilst it is a slow burner and doesn't force feed the audience with explanation after explantion of the proceedings (one of this films strongest points) it is still a good piece and Clooney really is on form here.