Tony Gilroy best known in Hollywood for penning all three Bourne scripts, this time directs as well as writes in Michael Clayton, and it appears he has saved his best material for himself!
On a black screen with the name Michael Clayton slowly emerging, the haunting deluded voice of Tom Wilkinson begins, ranting about truth and deceit, cover ups and exposure. It is a powerful introduction and serves to set the scene for what lies ahead – a thrilling 2 hours in the cinema!
Gilroy has written a tight, intriguing script about an in-house "fixer" at a powerful corporate law firm in New York. George Clooney relishes the role of Michael Clayton, the guy employed to clean up the mess of important clients. Anything from hit and runs to shoplifting wives.
When the firm's senior litigator Arthur, played by a scene stealing Tom Wilkinson, has an apparent breakdown, he threatens to turn against one of the firm's most powerful clients – so Michael Clayton is called upon.
For a directorial debut this is an astounding effort by Gilroy. He avoids the handheld camera work synonymous with his previous films and proves that tight plot structure, clever dialogue and great use of close ups, is enough to create the required paranoia and suspense.
This is a moral tale that is particularly timely in these days of overt political spin doctoring. Gilroy likes to look at the underbelly of what goes on around us and presents it in an emotional and thrilling package.
George Clooney has once again proven his ability to choose interesting scripts that resonate strongly.
