Michael Clayton

One of the most underrated films in recent memory. The best legal drama ever made, as well as a nuanced, impeccably written and directed existential thriller.

I really respect Tony Gilroy as a screen writer, and I could see his intelligence in the dialogue spoken. That said, most of the movie felt like random scenes and confusing developments. My wife said it well: "I don't like movies where it's confusing and unenjoyable until the last 5 minutes, and then it all makes sense". For us, Mr. Gilroy was too smart for his own good. George Clooney did a great job acting, but when the scenes he's working through are confusing, it's still not fun to watch. Seem to contain unnecessary rabbit trails. Crude dialogue about 2 prostitutes going down on a guy, and for no help to the story. The next day I listened to the the commentary featuring the Gilroy brothers, and it made me appreciate the film a lot more. Tony even mentioned he realized he was asking a lot of the audience to keep watching when things didn't necessarily seem to make sense. Post-commentary I would give it a higher score, but for first time viewers you may not love it.

This is one of those movies that you're sure people are saying good things about but you don't know why. I watched it and could tell the plot and acting would be well received but I never really knew what I was watching. I felt like it was hard to understand why characters were doing certain things.

Extremely boring....I could hardly stay awake enough to pay attention. Do not see this late at night or after more than one **** will soon be sound asleep.

Awful, awful film. Here's an apropos riddle: what can put you to sleep in 30-mins and is about 10mg? "Michael Clayton", that's what, it has about 10mg of substance to it, the rest is a waste of your life. Seriously, I felt myself actually age as it plodded through its 2 hr run time. And yes, I FORCED myself to finish it so that I'd have no regret or caveat regarding this criticism. This film is easily on the Top 5 of anyone's list for films that will bore you to death. All's it is is a vanity vehicle for George, he's almost in every scene, and in close-up. He's just not all that and his acting range rivals that of Keanu Reeves in this, such a waste. Both he and his character are age 45 at the time of filming, and he's an old looking 45, most people that age these days look to be in their early 30s. As for all the positive reviews from the critics and so-called users here, just remember George is in Hollywood's Top 3 so there's nothing - including glowing reviews - that he cannot buy. I could go on and on but this film doesn't warrant any further waste of my time.