Michael Clayton

The George Clooney starrer Michael Clayton is the kind of film that makes you want to clap or cheer at the end when the protag achieves a dubious sort of moral victory. Tony Gilroy directs in a confident manner, surely more able than other first time helmers. Gilroy has previously written many hit movies including the recent Bourne Ultimatum.
Clayton, not really a cop although his brother is a detective, and not actually a lawyer, works as a cleaner for a top law firm. When there's a problem Clayton's the one you call. Or as Clooney explains it in an impassioned speech: "I'm not the guy you kill, I'm the guy you buy off for$65,000."
The plot revolves around a class action lawsuit against a chemical company (think Erin Brockovich) and the lawyer (Tom Wilkinson in top form) handcuffing the various plantiffs has a pang of consciousness that leads to a breakdown. That's the cue to send in Clayton, although at this point he himself begins to feel some of his own pangs of consciousness.
The film has a sleek look and tight pacing. Add some high tension from supporting actors like Tilda Swinton and Sydney Pollack to bring the film to a full boil. There's a lot of dialogue and a few story turns that might lose an audience more attuned to CGI explosions. Michael Clayton has surveillance intrigue and only one explosion, but it's a smart film.

Anywhere is possible

I've been getting some strange post cards in the mail. They're promoting a film called Jumper.
Here is the website the post cards refer to. It has a countdown ending on 10/10/07:
http://anywhereispossible.com/

Gold in them thar hills

Look no further for a perfect art house film than The King of California. Starring Evan Rachel Wood and Michael Douglas this story takes in the past and the present, buried treasure and the proliferation of modern civilization keeping said treasures hidden.
There's also a hint of magic realism American style that gives The King of California a bouncy attitude. Consider a scene early on where a bobcat hops up on Douglas' kitchen counter. The critter came in through the window and makes an exit the same way. Of course given the fact that Douglas was institutionalized for suicide and depression we first consider the possibility that the animal is a hallucination.
While in the sanitarium Douglas did extensive research on a book written by a 17th Century Spanish explorer (all the other patients were watching JAG). He's back on the street, and living with teen daughter Evan Rachel Wood (who keeps racking up better film roles than anyone else of her age). Using maps, GPS and decoding the Spanish text Douglas finds some pottery shards buried near a golf course. Next for discovery is buried gold, which according to Douglas lies beneath the cement floor of a suburban Costco. Soon Wood has a part time job at the store, they snag the master keys and break in at night to dig up a fortune. Only then do real obstacles threaten the nature of their quest.
There's plenty of room for satiric jabs at the middle class expansion over once fertile land. First time writer/director Mike Cahill weaves the story without letting the humor or absurdity lag. Producer Alexander Payne shepherded the project and it bears a little bit of his comic touch.
-michael bergeron