MICHAEL CLAYTON

2008 Best Supporting Actress



Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
George Clooney: Michael Clayton, so-called "fixer" at the law firm of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen LLP
Sydney Pollack: his boss Senior Partner Marty Bach
Tom Wilkinson: Michael’s long-time friend, the firm’s top litigator Arthur Edens
Tilda Swinton: Karen Crowder, Chief Legal Counsel with U/North Chemicals
Merritt Wever: Anna, one of the defendants

REVIEW
I suspect the reason some movies are so confusing is to keep you in your seat long enough for you to figure out what is going on, otherwise you might get up and leave. That’s what crossed my mind as I sat through this rather long telling of one more instance of corporate malfeasance.

Probably those who have been called to the bar will be drawn to this cinematic version of Court TV but for many it will prove to be a bit too much: too much legal jargon, too muddled (especially the sub plot of Clayton’s personal life), too much unsaid.

Which is a shame because the acting is top notch (Clooney’s best effort in years), the cinemaphotography is first rate, the musical score right on and the stand taken by Edens is refreshing.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, including some sexual dialogue.

P.S.
Being familiar with the following legal terms will be useful in understanding what transpires:

BRIEF: A written document that outlines a party's legal arguments in a case.

CLASS ACTION SUIT: A lawsuit in which one or more parties file a complaint on behalf of themselves and all other people who are "similarly situated" (suffering from the same problem). Often used when a large number of people have comparable claims.

COMPENSATORY DAMAGES: Money awarded to reimburse actual costs, such as medical bills and lost wages. Also awarded for things that are harder to measure, such as pain and suffering.

DAMAGES: The financial compensation awarded to someone who suffered an injury or was harmed by someone else's wrongful act.

DEPOSITION: Part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness testifies under oath. A deposition is held out of court with no judge present, but the answers often can be used as evidence in the trial.

DISCOVERY: Part of the pre-trial litigation process during which each party requests relevant information and documents from the other side in an attempt to "discover" pertinent facts.

LLP: Limited Liability Partnership is a corporate enterprise that gives the benefits of limited liability to the principals but allows its members the flexibility of organising their internal structure as a traditional partnership.

PUNITIVE DAMAGES: Money awarded to a victim that is intended to punish a defendant and stop the person or business from repeating the type of conduct that caused an injury. Also intended to deter others from similar conduct.

RETAINER: Refers to the up front payment a client gives a lawyer to accept a case. The client is paying to "retain" the lawyer's services.

INTO THE WILD

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Emile Hirsch: 22-year old Christopher (Chris) McCandless
Jena Malone: narration by Chris' sister, Carine
William Hurt: their father Walt
Marcia Gay Harden: their mother Billlie
Brian Dierker: aging hippie Rainey
Catherine Keener: his soul-mate Jan
Vince Vaughn: wheat farmer Wayne Westerberg
Kristen Stewart: a teenage singer Tracey
Hal Holbrook: senior citizen Ron Franz

REVIEW
There are few films with a running time in excess of two hours that I would recommend seeing; but this is one of them.

The fact that it is based on a true story only serves to enhance its appeal. Fabulous camerawork (unusual camera angles, sweeping vistas, tight close-ups and lingering sunsets) coupled with some really good acting by most everyone (the border guard being an exception) a great soundtrack and a story about someone who takes the unconventional route makes for compelling viewing.

Using flashbacks always results in topsy-turvy chronological references but generally these are easy to handle, in part because of titles appearing periodically indicating the point in time. One other thing: a couple of times I started to get the feeling that it is running a tad too long then something happens and I wanted to stay on. And did so right to the end.

CLASSIFICATION
for language and some nudity (the nudist colony kind).

P.S.
The squeamish like me will have an opportunity to rest their eyes about ¾ of the way through after Chris bags his first moose.

THE KINGDOM

Crime drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jamie Foxx: FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury, leader of the forensic team
Chris Cooper: Special Agent Grant Sykes, the explosives expert
Jason Bateman: Special Agent Adam Leavitt, the intelligence analyst
Jennifer Garner: Special Agent Janet Mayes, the forensics examiner
Ashraf Barhom: Colonel Faris Al Ghazi of the local police

REVIEW
Unlike most movies that jump right into it expecting the viewer somehow to know the background to what is going on, this one begins with a short history of Saudia Arabia that sets the scene.

Although not just big colourful explosions and noisy gun fights, there are enough of them to keep the action going. Acting is adequate, as the roles don’t demand a lot of anyone (except the Colonel) and the story is much like others of its kind.

CLASSIFICATION
for intense sequences of graphic brutal violence and for language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Judging from the shadows, the softball game is being played sometime around noon so it would be too early for school classes in Washington D.C. since the East Coast is 7 hours behind Riyadh.

While being shown their accommodations one of the agents points out they are so tired after their long flight. However the actual flight time from Washington Dulles International Airport to King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is just a little over 12 hours not the 18 hours he mentions.

SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL

True war drama
Some dialogue in French with English subtitles

BACKGROUND
On July 1, 1962, Belgium granted full independence to Rwanda as a republic governed by the Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement. Rwanda thus became a Hutu-dominated one-party state. Following a coup in 1973, Juvénal Habyariman was inaugurated as president. For 20 years his Hutu military government ruled with an iron-fist policy against both Tutsis and any Hutus who opposed him. Habyariman resisted calls for free elections and was opposed to long-running demands by Rwandan Tutsi refugees for their right to return.

On April 6, 1994 his plane was shot down above Kigali airport. Within hours, a campaign of violence spread from the capital throughout the country and did not subside until three months later. Between April and June 1994 in the space of 100 days an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed . Most of the dead were Tutsis.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Roy Dupuis: Canadian Armed Forces General Roméo Dallaire
James Gallanders: his aide-de-camp Major Brent Beardsley
Owen Sejake: Major-General Anyidoho, United Nations Chief of Staff
Odile Katesi Gakire: Prime Minister of Rwanda
Deborah Kara Unger: American Reporter Emma

REVIEW
Told from the perspective of the man in charge of protecting the lives of innocent people, this is not simply a retelling of the horrors of the Rwanda genocide. Shot on location and with acting that is first rate (especially by Dupuis) the Rwanda part of it looks and feels authentic. The flashbacks less so.

Perhaps a little long, it is never boring. Some of the scenes are unsettling but manageable by all but the more squeamish.

CLASSIFICATION
for disturbing images, violence.

P.S.
Not to be confused with the Emmy-winning 2004 documentary film based on the book entitled Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire.

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH

Murder mystery

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Tommy Lee Jones: Hank Deerfield, retired military police officer
Susan Sarandon: his wife Joan
Jason Patric: Lt. Kirklander, officer at Fort Rudd army camp
Jonathan Tucker: Mike Deerfield, veteran of the Iraq war
Wes Chatham: one of his platoon buddies Corporal Steve Penning
Jake McLaughlin: Specialist Gordon Bonner
Mehcad Brooks: Specialist Ennis Long
Charlize Theron: police detective Emily Sanders

REVIEW
What sets this movie apart from some of the others is the terrific acting by the three principals (Jones, Sarandon and Theron) coupled with a well-developed story that provide clues on a piecemeal basis.

Although there is one subplot involving a woman who’s dog got hurt, for the most part things stay focused on the main task at hand, finding out who done it. And that they do in a most satisfactory manner.

CLASSIFICATION
for violent and disturbing content, language, some sexuality and nudity.

P.S.
According to the National Flag Code, chapter 10, section §176 governing the display of the United States Flag:
“it should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”

SILK

Drama

BACKGROUND
Venetian merchants traded extensively in silk and encouraged silk growers to settle in Italy. By the 13th century, Italian silk was a significant source of trade. Italian silk was so popular in Europe that Francis I of France invited Italian silk makers to create a French silk industry, especially in Lyon. In the late 19th century China, Japan, and Italy were the major producers of silk.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Michael Pitt: Hervé Joncour, young military man
Kenneth Welsh: his father, the mayor of Lavilledieu
Alfred Molina: local businessman Baldabiou
Keira Knightley: schoolmistress Hélène
Koji Yashuko: the village leader

REVIEW
This movie is not a complete write-off but almost.

First the good things about it.
1. Stunning cinematography (consistent with the high production values)

The not-so-good things about it:
1. Way too long (almost 2 hours)
2. Ponderously slow (takes forever for anything to happen)
3. Thin story line
4. Unbelievable story line
5. Amateurish acting (by the lead actor)
6. Repetitive scenes (same long trip shown three times)
7. Repetitive piano score
8. Unnecessary clutter that goes nowhere (the Dutch guns trader etc)


CLASSIFICATION
for sexuality and nudity.

P.S.
The same painted background scene of the mountains is used more than once. Most set directors go to great length to make sure the illusion of reality is not compromised in this manner.

THE HUNTING PARTY

Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Richard Gere: Simon Hunt, TV correspondent
Terrence Howard: his cameraman Duck
Jesse Eisenberg: Benjamin, recent Harvard school graduate

REVIEW
The role taken on by Gere calls for a wide range of thespian skills, some of which he handles well (the flippant attitude, his hard-drinking, tough talking manner) but the more heartfelt emotional scenes come across as fake.

Speaking of fake: supposedly based on a true story, the whole premise is shaky and brings into question how seriously one should take this film?

Answer: Not very.

CLASSIFICATION
for strong language and some violent content.