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Michael Clayton Not Worth the HypeCritically Over-Trumpeted Clooney Vehicle Fails to Deliver ThrillsWritten and directed by Tony Gilroy and starring media darling George Clooney, "Michael Clayton" is bafflingly celebrated by critics, audiences, and even the Academy.
Michael Clayton is the most overrated film of 2007. The producers were banking on George Clooney's cocky charisma to garner attention and awards, and it worked. Critics have praised it for reinventing the lawyer-centered drama/thriller, but there is nothing extraordinary about this film at all. It's not even mediocre. To call it mediocre would be an insult to mediocrity. Michael Clayton is a hackneyed, below-average, boring, bad movie. Does Original Script Really Mean the Story is Original?Usually this genre is reserved for adaptations (picture John Grisham swimming in a Scrooge McDuck-sized vault of money), so Tony Gilroy's original script makes people excited. But how original is it when every aspect is been-there, done-that? There's the harrowed main character doubting his purpose in life (Clooney), the wise old-timer (Sydney Pollack), and the villain questioning her villainy (Tilda Swinton). Even the most original character (played brilliantly by Tom Wilkinson) is the classic stereotype of someone tortured by past misdeeds who wants to switch sides from evil back to good. Clayton Has Clichés Coursing Through Its VeinsMichael Clayton is one of the least compelling main characters in recent history. Everything about him feels like it was constructed in a writing-by-numbers fashion. Michael used to be an attorney, but his firm believes he's more valuable as a "fixer," meaning he cleans up the messes made by clients and keeps them happy, even it he's required to do it illegally or immorally. He's tired of this life and feels underappreciated. Throw in a divorce, a gambling problem, a strained relationship with his son, miscellaneous family issues (untrustworthy coked-up brother and dying father), and a failing business venture (opening a bar), and voilà, he's just another protagonist riddled with contrivances. Combining all of these clichés makes him seem more phony and one-dimensional. Even the theme of the film is tired: "Big business is bad." How revolutionary. Actors Too Good for CharactersTilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson bring more credibility and depth to their characters than they deserve. Swinton just won an undeserved Oscar for her performance. It's great, but it shouldn't have been nominated in the first place. Tom Wilkinson bursts with humanity as the film's heart. He's electric and exciting, and his is the only justified Oscar nomination of the seven the film received. His performance almost makes the film recommendable, but just fast-forwarding to his parts and then moving on is the best option. Clooney Not Oscar CaliberEveryone has been raving about George Clooney's performance. It's really good, certainly by Clooney's standards, but it's nothing remarkable in the slightest. Wearing dark circles under his eyes and not smiling as much as he usually does isn't acting. Clooney's slick, smug, larger-than-life, yet undeniably charming persona got him an Oscar nomination, not his ability. Michael Clayton is technically adequate and passably entertaining at times. It almost slides by on the acting alone (mainly Swinton and Wilkinson), but ultimately, Clooney is asked to carry the whole film, and he isn't strong enough to do it. This feels like a film desperately trying to win awards. There's nothing shocking or thrilling about this forced, forgettable thriller. It plods along until its predictable ending and self-indulgent final shot. It's not good enough to take itself as seriously as it does. Tony Gilroy should have hired a "fixer" to clean up this mess. Rating: ** (out of 5)
The copyright of the article Michael Clayton Not Worth the Hype in Film Dramas is owned by Lisa Draski. Permission to republish Michael Clayton Not Worth the Hype in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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