Directed by:
Tony GilroyScreenplay:
Tony GilroyCinematography:
Robert ElswitComposer:
James Newton HowardCast:
George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Michael O'Keefe, Ken Howard, Denis O'Hare, Sean Cullen, Merritt Wever, David Lansbury (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house 'fixer' at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of his employer's dirtiest work at the behest of the firm's co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack), to whom Clayton feels a deep loyalty. He arranges top-flight legal services and skirts through loopholes for their ethically questionable clients. Though burned out, disillusioned and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his messy private life has left him inextricably tied to the firm. Meanwhile, litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) finds her entire company's future hinging on the outcome of a multi-billion dollar settlement overseen by Clayton's friend, star lawyer Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson). When Edens snaps and decides to blow the whistle on the questionable case, sabotaging the defence, Clayton finds himself in the centre of a conspiratorial maelstrom where he must decide between his loyalty and his conscience. (Pathé Distribution UK)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 2008 - Tilda Swinton (Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role)
- 2008 - Best Motion Picture of the Year
- 2008 - Tony Gilroy (Best Achievement in Directing)
- 2008 - George Clooney (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role)
- 2008 - Tom Wilkinson (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)
- 2008 - Tony Gilroy (Best Original Screenplay)
- 2008 - James Newton Howard (Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score))
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 2008 - Tilda Swinton (Best Supporting Actress)
- 2008 - George Clooney (Best Leading Actor)
- 2008 - Tom Wilkinson (Best Supporting Actor)
- 2008 - Tony Gilroy (Best Original Screenplay)
- 2008 - Best Editing
Golden Globes
- 2008 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 2008 - George Clooney (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama)
- 2008 - Tom Wilkinson (Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture)
- 2008 - Tilda Swinton (Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture)
Critics Choice Awards
- 2008 - Best Picture
- 2008 - George Clooney (Best Actor)
- 2008 - Tom Wilkinson (Best Supporting Actor)
- 2008 - Tilda Swinton (Best Supporting Actress)
- 2008 - Tony Gilroy (Best Writer)
Venice Film Festival
- 2007 - Tony Gilroy (Golden Lion for Best Film)