Movies

Go to the archives

Michael Clayton

By Jesse Kornbluth
Published: Mar 17, 2024
Category: Drama

“When somebody says it’s not about the money,” H.L. Mencken wrote, “it’s about the money.”

John Barnett, a prominent Boeing whistle-blower, testified last week about the company’s safety policies at its 787 Dreamliner factory in South Carolina. In his first day of testimony, he raised concerns about Boeing’s manufacturing practices and accused Boeing of retaliating against him for making complaints about quality and safety. He was frightened about a scheduled second deposition. He didn’t give it — he was found dead in the parking lot with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Suicide? It looked like it. But these days, even the obvious raises questions. Like those people who strolled through the Capitol on January 6th — many will tell you they were tourists, just visiting.

 John Barnett is said to have told friends he was afraid something could happen to him.

Remember that litigator in the film “Michael Clayton?” Two friends immediately remembered the famous litigator in that movie who was convinced he wasn’t defending a business practice… he was part of a conspiracy that poisoned people.

“I’m begging you, Michael,” the litigator tells George Clooney, who has been sent from his New York law firm to silence him, “I’m begging you to believe this is not just madness.” And he launches into a story about leaving a building to find himself coated in “amniotic, embryonic fluid,” then coming to a “stunning moment of clarity” about pouring years of his life into… well, we don’t know yet, but it must be bad. As a critic points out, it’s clear the litigator “works in that rarefied gray zone where the barely legal meets the almost criminal and takes lunch at the private club…”

“Michael Clayton” couldn’t be more topical. In a world where money counts and white men in suits have trouble remembering how to spell ethics, it’s about money and ethics.
– The writer-director is Tony Gilroy, who wrote all three “Bourne” movies.
– It stars George Clooney and co-stars Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and Sydney Pollack.
– It was the only movie at the 2008 Oscars to receive more than one acting nomination; it received three. In all, it was nominated for 7 Academy Awards. Swinton won Best Supporting Actress.
– It’s really smart: strong action sequences, great dialogue, and a plot with no holes.

Watch the preview. For the Amazon Prime stream of “Michael Clayton,” click here.

What’s the story? Michael Clayton works for a major New York law firm that’s been handling a class action lawsuit for U-North, which knowingly manufactured a dangerous weed killer that led to 468 deaths. U-North is on the verge of settling the suit when the law firm’s lead lawyer discovers a damaging confidential memo, signed by the former CEO. He flips out at a deposition, rips off his clothes and runs, naked, to the parking lot. The law firm sends Michael Clayton to repair the damage.

Karen Crowder [the recently appointed U-North CEO]: Who’s this guy they’re sending here? Clayton? I never heard of him.
Maude: Michael Raymond Clayton. Born September 9, 1959 St. Joseph’s Hospital, Bronx, New York. Father is NYPD patrolman Raymond Xavier Clayton. Mother, Alice Mary Clayton. Graduates Washingtonville Central High School, Orange County, New York in 1977. Graduates St. John’s University 1980. Fordham Law, ’82. Eighty-two through Eighty-six he’s ADA with the Queens District Attorney’s office. And 1986 he’s with the Joint Manhattan Queens Organized Crime Task Force. And then in 1990 he starts with Kenner Boch and Ledeen.
Karen Crowder: So he’s a partner?
Maude: No. He’s listed as “special counsel.” Says he specializes in wills and trusts.
Karen Crowder: He goes from criminal prosecution to wills and trusts? He’s been there seventeen years and he’s not a partner? This is the guy they send? Who is this guy?

Who, indeed? “I’m not a miracle worker,” Clayton says. “I’m a janitor.” His self-assessment is harsh: “I’m not the guy you kill. I’m the guy you buy. “ Believe that at your peril. When he’s pushed to the brink, he has a spine.

We are living in a time when sanity is under attack. It’s healing and inspiring to watch a film about a man who, at considerable risk and the certain knowledge he won’t be thanked for doing the right thing, does the right thing. And just not because he’s George Clooney.