A review of Michael Clayton
Through his films, is George Clooney laying the groundwork for a political career? Of his last five films, three have distinctly political overtones ( The Good German (2006), Syriana (2005), Good Night and Good Luck (2005)). In the other two, he has just reprised his role as Danny Ocean, the suave leader of a gang of con men. Michael Clayton, the latest political drama from the George Clooney school of acting, is replete with the trademark Clooney facial expressions that embody a brooding yet intelligent man. Tony Gilroy’s story of a fixer in a law firm who stumbles upon an inside secret is not fresh, but Clooney’s Clayton, familiar though his expressions may be, keeps the audience in their seats. To his credit, Clooney can’t be faulted for being an unreliable actor.
So what is Clooney trying to say as Michael Clayton? Clayton is middle-aged, stuck in a stagnant career, trying to help his brother out of a financial dead-end, struggling with being a lone parent and coming to terms with his gambling addiction. One of the best lines in Michael Clayton reflects all Clayton’s (and possibly Clooney’s) pent-up frustration with the system: ‘I am Shiva, the god of death’.
Interestingly, Michael Clayton is also Clooney’s fifth collaborative project with Steven Soderbergh who is executive producer on the film. This may be a relationship to watch out for. If the director of the forthcoming Leatherheads gives Clooney a role that actually challenges him, the Clooney-Soderbergh pair will no doubt present a much more compelling film than this.
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