How the hell did Tony Gilroy pull this off? How did he write & direct Michael Clayton? I would give anything to share a cup of coffee with this guy & just ask him the following: what possessed you? How did you do this? Screenwriting doesn’t get better. It... can’t. It’s not possibleshow more

I use GEORGE CLOONEY as an example all the time. He left ‘ER’ in 1999. IMO it took him eight (8) years and generally 17 movies before he became a TRUE Leading Man in MICHAEL CLAYTON (2007).

Excellent movie , not least because the cast are outstanding; I was delighted to see a role for one of my favourite directors the fine Sydney Pollack

Add in the fine performance of Tom Wilkinson. Excellent movie.

Top 5 flick for me. I watch it.. on Blue Ray, and it’s glorious. The scene with his son in the car after the brother got caught stealing tires… there’s something so simple and powerful in that scene to me.

And it lost best screenplay to Juno lol

One of my favorites of the 21st century. Along with Sicario, Hell or High Water, nightcrawler, no country for old men, Django unchained, drive, Dunkirk, top gun maverick, joker, & John Wick.

Fun fact: Denzel Washington was the first choice to play Michael Clayton but he turned it down because it was tonys directorial debut and Denzel doesn’t work with first time directors.

Clooney and Swinton should really do another film together. It’s quite thrilling watching them work together in this, and they’re great fun in Burn After Reading. I’d love to see a film where it’s mostly just them bouncing off each other!

One of my favorite films. Tom Wilkinson is tremendous.

This scene is actually moronic. Makes no sense, everything he got would be completely inadmissible as violins the attorney-client privilege, and doesn’t even prove anything. Michael Clayton could be the most overrated movie of all time.

One of my favorites. Some movies kind of wear out when you watch them multiple times. This one doesn't because the plot, script, and acting is that sharp.

On the blu ray Tony explains how he came up with the idea and the headspace he was in. It’s a great listen.

Add this scene to the list:

Tilda in the background, her arms swaying and then dropping to her knees, is a stunning piece of physical performance- externializing the internal, as A. Hopkins defined acting.

George was robbed of that Oscar. Tilda got one though.

I'd say the script of The Godfather (and The French Connection) was a tad tighter.

Great screenplay. Great movie. Great performances, EXCEPT for Swinton who is weak and shallow. Emma Stone’s derivative performance of a female CEO in Bugonia is far superior.

I totally agree. This is a movie that I could literally just listen to, the script is that perfect.

That ending stays in my head. 😳

An absurd movie where American corporate criminals are actually held criminally accountable for their criminal acts? Yeah, sorry but this movie is nothing but a liberal fantasy, not rooted in any reality.

It was brilliant. And it was Clooney at his best. He’s so talented but tends to take easy roles.

such a great ending to a great film. Peak acting by the cast too

@peterfmackay The cast were all at the peak of their talent, probably because the script was so fine.

That's a really good movie. Most people haven't seen it.

One of my favourite films

Whoopdy fucking doo

Great film. Best characters ever. Within a few moments of meeting the characters you knew who they were. Amazing.

Good movie even though not a big Clooney fan.

Seriously tho. He's in a whole league of his own

I always say that 2007 was not a two film race (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, THERE WILL BE BLOOD) but a four film race (ZODIAC, MICHAEL CLAYTON)

Fortunately he had a great book to help him pull it off.

“The last place you want to see me is in court.”

Seconded.

Cameras almost melt when Swinton is there.

Mid film in all aspects