Grade: B+

Michael Clayton is George Clooney’s Erin Brokovich.  He’ll likely get nominated for this role as the attorney his firm goes to when they need to clean up “messes.”  He’s got messes of his own, including money problems from a failed restaurant venture, a gambling problem, and trying to be a good divorced dad.  Most of the time, the guy is understandably stressed, but he manages to get through the day looking like he’s got it all together.  When his mentor has a crisis of conscience and starts to turn on a multi-million dollar case, it’s Clayton that is sent to fix the situation.  It’s more than any one guy can handle, and Clayton ends up being a target as well.  Desperate and confused, our flawed hero doesn’t know who to trust.  Tilda Swinton eats up the scenery as the opposing attorney, well rehearsed and calculated, yet teetering on the edge of a breakdown.  Well written, smartly directed.  One caveat: No love scenes, George is fully clothed the whole time.