Julian RuncanMichael Clayton: I Guess Stuff Happened
June 25th 2010 11:06
I feel kind of bad calling Michael Clayton boring. The script isn't bad, the direction is fine, the acting quite impressive, but I never cared. The entire film felt like it was laying the groundwork for something that never happened, with enough interesting moments peppered throughout to keep me awake.
Clooney and Wilkinson are top form as always, and the rest of the cast holds up their end of the bargain well. Swinton isn't bad or anything, but I'm certainly confused how she managed to get an Oscar for such a short, forgettable performance. The only performance that may have deserved something special was Wilkinson's, but he didn't get any proper recognition.
I suppose it was the pacing that left me behind for this one. Among everything that was happening with all of the characters, I never found myself emotionally invested in any of it. The formula was refreshingly changed from your typical legal drama, but in the process I never connected with anything that was going on.
While Michael Clayton is a fine film, I certainly feel it wasn't worthy of all of the attention it received at the Academy Awards. It mixes things up a little, but I still don't feel it's any better than The Rainmaker or even Erin Brockovich. Perhaps if it hadn't been praised so much, I wouldn't have been so disappointed.
7.0/10
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