Clooney is broke. Wilkinson is crazy, and Tilda Swinton is so sick she can barely look at herself in the mirror. She stares and attempts to perfect a speech she is about to begin. It's rare to see a woman look so ugly in a movie. Everyone in this movie is on the edge and at least one (Wilkinson) has gone over in a flaming rocket.
Conscience strikes is what happens. A lawyer, that for six years has been defending the incredibly guilty corporation U North because of a poison product, has finally broke down and become reborn. In his best performance to date, Tom Wilkinson plays the manic depressive who has stopped taking his medication and experiences a moment of clarity. He runs down the street naked chasing after a plaintiff he has fallen in love with. But that's just the start, now he's switching sides in a 3 billion dollar lawsuit and all hell is breaking loose with Clooney's Michael Clayton in the middle.
This is one of the best movies I have seen this year. The dialogue is smart and incredibly acted and the story has a certain urgency in it. and more than that, the story has choices. The charachters are presented with choices that are not clear cut and to the viewer look like they could go either way. Sydney Pollack also has a good part here and listen as he talks Michael out of having a change of heart. Great stuff. Also Wilkinson providing advice to Clooney on his mental condition. Fantastic. Or Tilda Swinton feeling the affects of her choices, (This is not a villain who can do horrible things and not flinch). Like I said one of the best movies I've seen this year. Wilkinson should get a nomination at least.
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