Cynthia and I have a few secret codes and signs. For instance, when we say that a film is quote unquote Oscar Material, that usually means: ya sure, it is artistic but it can quite boring (Cynthia surely did feel that way). Okay, I personally don’t feel that bored because the acting is solid. Real solid. And that’s why you come to my site to hear different views.
Cynthia’s colleague enjoyed watching “Michael Clayton”. She actually forgot what the movie was as it was the 2nd movie straight after that, in her own words, mouth-watering Eastern Promise (remember that naked dude?). Being a walking encyclopedia of what’s showing, I guessed it right. She said she can relate to the corporate life depicted within. I can certainly relate to how she relates to the movie. I was once a “fixer”, a support consultant who was flown into Paris to fix a series of problems so that my so-called beloved firm would not get sued. And the firm was saved. I got nothing in the end. The firm never remembers, just quarter to quarter results.
Sure, I can relate to “Michael Clayton”. When I told my new colleague ST that I was going to watch “Michael Clayton”, her immediate response was: you’ve got class! I’ve got class? We’ve got class? Now I know. You really need to prepare yourself in order to appreciate “Michael Clayton”. Viewers are the hardest bunch to satisfy. If the movie is overwhelmingly entertaining, we complain that it does not have enough character development. “Michael Clayton” has plenty of character development and yet, some of us find it boring.
The acting of George Clooney (the “fixer” of a law firm) is solid. So are Tom Wilkinson (the lawyer who goes mad) and Tilda Swinton (chief counsel). The storyline is straightforward, nothing groundbreaking. Our little complain is that we don’t really get to see George Clooney fixing anything. There are quite a number of moral decisions involved, that’s for sure.
Surprisingly TK enjoyed the movie. Cynthia and I joked that because he got two phone calls from his boss and needed to leave the theatre. Hence, the movie is (a) a lot faster pace and (b) a lot more mysterious. Critics all over the world love this movie. I think you can too … if you have the patience.
11 replies on “Michael Clayton – Do You Have The Patience?”
Sorry Wilfrid, I have to ask this question in your comment box. 😛
Readers who come to my blog using IE has this problem. Each time it’s loading an error comes out stating :
IE cannot open this page http: / / eastcoastlife. blogspot. com. Operation Aborted.
Each time they wanna comment or something, they must be quick before that error pops out.
What is wrong? I’m not an IT person. I don’t know how to fix it. It’s been there for months and I think people just get fed-up and don’t visit anymore.
I have no problem when I use Firefox. Can you help?
ECL – I noticed that since 2 nights ago and am planning to drop you a comment tonight. I am not able to open your site via Google Reader but am able to enter via the normal way. I’m having a haircut at Thompson Plaza now and will email you when I’m back home.
Oooooh thank you once again for this review! I had been meaning to watch this movie…. Now to find time when I am in Singapore…… Hmmmmm (I have no time here! And I don’t think they are screening this)
Have you watched “Thank You For Smoking”? I found that extremely intelligent and engaging. If this movie compares to that, wooooooot!
I removed all the sidebar links and will redo it one by one. I don’t know if it’s going to work. Right now my blog has no problem loading.
*fingers crossed*
Hey, sorry mann. Have to trouble you.
ECL – Not a trouble at all! I wrote an email to you. Hope I got the address right.
G – Hey, thanks for your comment. At times I’m not sure if the stuffs I write is useful at all. And yes, I have watched “Thank You For Smoking”. I love that show. It is the first time when I come across the term “moral flexibility” 🙂
Oh, the main actor from that show has acted in “No Reservation” with Zeta Jones.
Ah… You guys are making me so jealous of the movies that you are watching! 🙁
JT – If my memory serves me right, you should be here in Singapore soon for a month! Definitely we shall catch up for a horror. Anyway, you will be back for good from India this year Oct ya? 🙂 Time flies. Remember that.
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