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* JerkassHasAPoint: Marty, when Michael says he's tired of being a fixer and wants to return to litigation.
--> '''Michael:''' I was good at it!
--> '''Marty:''' So are a lot of people. At this, at what you do, you're ''great.'' For Chrissakes, Michael, you've got something everybody wants: you have a niche.
--> '''Michael:''' I was good at it!
--> '''Marty:''' So are a lot of people. At this, at what you do, you're ''great.'' For Chrissakes, Michael, you've got something everybody wants: you have a niche.
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* ArcSymbol: Horses.
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* ArcSymbol: Horses.
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* ArcSymbol: Horses.
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* TheOner: The scene where [[spoiler:the assassins]] catch up to Arthur at his apartment.
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* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Verne and Iker, the [[spoiler:assassins]] Karen calls in to contain the scandal.
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* WhatTheHellHero: Michael's cop brother calls him out after he sneaks into [[spoiler:Arthur's apartment]]:
-->''You've got all these cops thinking you're a lawyer, and you've got all these lawyers thinking you're some kind of cop. You've got everybody fooled, don't you? Except you. You know exactly what you are.''
-->''You've got all these cops thinking you're a lawyer, and you've got all these lawyers thinking you're some kind of cop. You've got everybody fooled, don't you? Except you. You know exactly what you are.''
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* CastTheExpert: The auctioneer
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!!This Film Provides Examples Of:
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!!This Film Provides Examples Of:film provides examples of:
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[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_0714.jpeg]]
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->''"The truth can be adjusted."''
-->-- '''{{Tagline}}'''
-->-- '''{{Tagline}}'''
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_0714.jpeg]]
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/image_0714.jpeg]]
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A 2007 legal thriller starring Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Gilroy, best known for the Film/TheBourneSeries.
It centers on [[ProtagonistTitle Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
It centers on [[ProtagonistTitle Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
to:
A 2007 legal thriller starring Creator/GeorgeClooney. Creator/GeorgeClooney, Tom Wilkinson, Creator/TildaSwinton, and Creator/SydneyPollack. It is the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Gilroy, best known for the Film/TheBourneSeries.
Film/TheBourneSeries.
It centers on [[ProtagonistTitle MichaelClayton]]. Michael Clayton is Clayton]] (Clooney), a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, Edens (Wilkinson), and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
It centers on [[ProtagonistTitle Michael
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Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. [[spoiler:Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life. Ditto for the "blink and you'll miss it" horse grazing on a hill in the book Realm and Conquest.]]
to:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. [[spoiler:Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life. Ditto for the "blink and you'll miss it" horse grazing on a hill in the book Realm ''Realm and Conquest.Conquest''.]]
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* NeverMyFault: The man Michael is called to assist at the beginning of the film is this. Also a JerkAss. He ran down a jogger and left the scene of the accident, and when Michael arrives he starts blaming the street lights, the dark, the rain, the jogger, etc. Anyone but himself. Even his wife is clearly fed up with his bullshit and Michael is obviously struggling to keep from rolling his eyes while listening to the asshole talk. Michael cuts through his bullshit and starts making plans to call a criminal lawyer because he ''knows'' the guy is fucked. The police work closely with body shops and car repair places, and due to how exclusive the neighborhood is they aren't to have any trouble running the guy down. The guy finally realizes this and suggests that he just report the car as stolen, but Michael doesn't even acknowledge this suggestion because he knows it won't work. The idiot's phone records will be used as evidence in court, and all the calls he made to multiple lawyers instead of the police will torpedo any such stolen car story.
to:
* NeverMyFault: The man Michael is called to assist at the beginning of the film is this. Also a JerkAss. He ran down a jogger and left the scene of the accident, and when Michael arrives he starts blaming the street lights, the dark, the rain, the jogger, etc. Anyone but himself. Even his wife is clearly fed up with his bullshit and Michael is obviously struggling to keep from rolling his eyes while listening to the asshole talk. Michael cuts through his bullshit and starts making plans to call a criminal lawyer because he ''knows'' the guy is fucked. The police work closely with body shops and car repair places, and due to how exclusive the neighborhood is is, they aren't going to have any trouble running the guy down. The guy finally realizes this and suggests that he just report the car as stolen, but Michael doesn't even acknowledge this suggestion because he knows it won't work. The idiot's phone records will be used as evidence in court, and all the calls he made to multiple lawyers instead of the police will torpedo any such stolen car story.
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* NeverMyFault: The man Michael is called to assist at the beginning of the film is this. Also a JerkAss. He ran down a jogger and left the scene of the accident, and when Michael arrives he starts blaming the street lights, the dark, the rain, the jogger, etc. Anyone but himself. Even his wife is clearly fed up with his bullshit and Michael is obviously struggling to keep from rolling his eyes while listening to the asshole talk. Michael cuts through his bullshit and starts making plans to call a criminal lawyer because he ''knows'' the guy is fucked. The police work closely with body shops and car repair places, and due to how exclusive the neighborhood is they aren't to have any trouble running the guy down. The guy finally realizes this and suggests that he just report the car as stolen, but Michael doesn't even acknowledge this suggestion because he knows it won't work. The idiot's phone records will be used as evidence in court, and all the calls he made to multiple lawyers instead of the police will torpedo any such stolen car story.
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Do not spoiler tag trope names on work pages or the names of works on trope pages; please see Handling Spoilers for more information.
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* [[spoiler:MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!]]
to:
* [[spoiler:MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy MurderIsTheBestSolution: [[spoiler:Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!]]
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* [[spoiler:ProfessionalKiller]]
to:
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correctly alphabetizing tropes
* TheAtoner: Arthur.
Deleted line(s) 19 (click to see context) :
* DyeingForYourArt: TildaSwinton (Karen) gained a lot of weight in preparation for her role.
* TheSpock: Michael Clayton.
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* TheAtoner: Arthur.
* TheSpock: Michael Clayton.
* TheSpock: Michael Clayton.
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A 2007 legal thriller starring Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for the Film/TheBourneSeries.
to:
A 2007 legal thriller starring Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, Gilroy, best known for the Film/TheBourneSeries.
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California Doubling
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-->'''Arthur Edens:''' Then who are you?
to:
-->'''Arthur Edens:''' Then who are you? you?
* CaliforniaDoubling: In a minor way within the New York metropolitan area. The film suggests that all the action outside the city takes place in Westchester County. However, the railroad bridge where he stops and admires the horses is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodna_Viaduct Moodna Viaduct]] in ''Orange'' County, twice as far away from the city and on the other side of the Hudson River. Some other scenes were also filmed nearby.
* CaliforniaDoubling: In a minor way within the New York metropolitan area. The film suggests that all the action outside the city takes place in Westchester County. However, the railroad bridge where he stops and admires the horses is the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodna_Viaduct Moodna Viaduct]] in ''Orange'' County, twice as far away from the city and on the other side of the Hudson River. Some other scenes were also filmed nearby.
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Omnidisciplinary Lawyer (averted)
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* OmnidisciplinaryLawyer: Averted. Michael's specialty at the firm is using his contacts and experience from his past as a prosecutor to mitigate occasional problems with the criminal-justice system the firm's corporate clients that the other lawyers would be incapable of handling.
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* ExternalCombustion: DoubleSubversion: we see all the usual car-focus foreshadowing, then nothing happens. Later on, the car suddenly explodes while Michael happens to not be in it, and we don't find out until the end of the film that [[spoiler:he was being tailed by hitmen with a remote detonator.]]
to:
* ExternalCombustion: DoubleSubversion: we [[spoiler:DoubleSubversion: We see all the usual car-focus foreshadowing, then nothing happens. Later on, the car suddenly explodes while Michael happens to not be in it, and we don't find out until the end of the film that [[spoiler:he he was being tailed by hitmen with a remote detonator.]]
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A 2007 legal thriller staring Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directoral debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for adapting Film/TheBourneSeries.
to:
A 2007 legal thriller staring starring Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directoral directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for adapting the Film/TheBourneSeries.
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life.
to:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. Later [[spoiler:Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life. Ditto for the "blink and you'll miss it" horse grazing on a hill in the book Realm and Conquest.]]
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* HowWeGotHere
to:
* HowWeGotHereHowWeGotHere and InMediasRes: The opening sequence is followed by going back four days earlier.
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* LeaveTheCameraRunning: The final scene of Michael in the back of a cab
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* LeaveTheCameraRunning: The final end credits scene of Michael in the back of a cabcab.
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* LoveRedeems: Arthur's love for one of the plaintiffs caused him to change his position and supply evidence that could bring the company down.
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Well, like a suicide.
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comes directly from an illustration from Michael's son's fantasy book and it [[spoiler:saves Michael from the car bomb.]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Divine intervention?]]
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Well, like a suicide.
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comes directly from an illustration from Michael's son's fantasy book and it [[spoiler:saves Michael from the car bomb.]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Divine intervention?]]
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!
to:
* LoveRedeems: Arthur's love for one of the plaintiffs caused him to change his position and [[spoiler:and later supply evidence that could bring the company down.
down.]]
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident:Well, [[spoiler:Well, like a suicide.
suicide.]]
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comesdirectly [[spoiler:directly from an illustration from Michael's son's fantasy book and it [[spoiler:saves saves Michael from the car bomb.]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Divine intervention?]]
*MurderIsTheBestSolution: [[spoiler:MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!hitman!]]
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident:
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comes
*
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* ProfessionalKiller
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him. Karen Crowder is put in the position of protecting U-North and resorts to assassination. The assassins themselves are respectable business-types who take jobs while teeing off at the country club. Everyone is simply doing their job. In case we miss it, the opening scenes have Michael clocking in with his ID badge on the way to work.
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him. Karen Crowder is put in the position of protecting U-North and resorts to assassination. The assassins themselves are respectable business-types who take jobs while teeing off at the country club. Everyone is simply doing their job. In case we miss it, the opening scenes have Michael clocking in with his ID badge on the way to work.
to:
* ProfessionalKiller
[[spoiler:ProfessionalKiller]]
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him.Karen [[spoiler:Karen Crowder is put in the position of protecting U-North and resorts to assassination. The assassins themselves are respectable business-types who take jobs while teeing off at the country club. ]] Everyone is simply doing their job. In case we miss it, the opening scenes have Michael clocking in with his ID badge on the way to work.
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him.
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* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill [[spoiler:Arthur Edens]] or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
* VillainousBreakdown: Literally, as Karen begins to fall apart while Clayton berates her, then starts shaking like a leaf and outright collapses to the floor as her crimes are revealed and the police move in to arrest her, to the point where they actually hold off on cuffing her because they fear she might need medical attention.
* VillainousBreakdown: Literally, as Karen begins to fall apart while Clayton berates her, then starts shaking like a leaf and outright collapses to the floor as her crimes are revealed and the police move in to arrest her, to the point where they actually hold off on cuffing her because they fear she might need medical attention.
to:
* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill [[spoiler:Arthur [[spoiler:kill Arthur Edens]] or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
* VillainousBreakdown:Literally, [[spoiler:Literally, as Karen begins to fall apart while Clayton berates her, then starts shaking like a leaf and outright collapses to the floor as her crimes are revealed and the police move in to arrest her, to the point where they actually hold off on cuffing her because they fear she might need medical attention.]]
* VillainousBreakdown:
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Do not spoiler tag trope names on work pages or the names of works on trope pages; please see Handling Spoilers for more information.
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* [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]]: Arthur to the fullest.
to:
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]]: Arthur to the fullest.]]
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Fixed the \"Trouble Entendre\" example, which described the incorrect character as the target of an assassination. Also added spoiler tag.
Changed line(s) 42 (click to see context) from:
* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill Michael Clayton or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
to:
* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill Michael Clayton [[spoiler:Arthur Edens]] or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
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* {{Blackmail}}:
to:
* {{Blackmail}}: ArmorPiercingQuestion:
-->'''Michael Clayton:''' I'm not the enemy.
-->'''Arthur Edens:''' Then who are you?
-->'''Michael Clayton:''' I'm not the enemy.
-->'''Arthur Edens:''' Then who are you?
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A 2007 legal thriller staring GeorgeClooney. It is the directoral debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for adapting Film/TheBourneSeries.
to:
A 2007 legal thriller staring GeorgeClooney.Creator/GeorgeClooney. It is the directoral debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for adapting Film/TheBourneSeries.
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Deleted line(s) 42 (click to see context) :
* WhamLine: "You're so fucked."
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* IronicEcho: "I am Shiva, the god of death!"
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Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
It centers on [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
to:
It centers on [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin [[ProtagonistTitle Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
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Added DiffLines:
A 2007 legal thriller staring GeorgeClooney. It is the directoral debut of screenwriter Tony Gilory, best known for adapting Film/TheBourneSeries.
It centers on [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
----
!!This Film Provides Examples Of:
* AmoralAttorney: Deconstructed and subverted throughout.
** Karen fits this to a tee in what she does [[PunchClockVillain on the job]], but that job leaves her highly [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil neurotic and edgy]].
** Marty (the managing partner of the firm) has a line that sums this trope up perfectly: [[spoiler: "This case reeked from day one. Fifteen years in and I got to tell you how we pay the rent?"]]
** Arthur is an example of this who starts off the movie with a HeelFaceTurn.
** And the main arc of the movie [[spoiler: is Michael doing the same turn]].
* {{Blackmail}}:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: U-North.
* DefaultToGood: Several examples.
* DyeingForYourArt: TildaSwinton (Karen) gained a lot of weight in preparation for her role.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Michael essentially has to cash in his career, and quite possibly the firm he works for, to do the right thing.
* EngineeredPublicConfession
* ExternalCombustion: DoubleSubversion: we see all the usual car-focus foreshadowing, then nothing happens. Later on, the car suddenly explodes while Michael happens to not be in it, and we don't find out until the end of the film that [[spoiler:he was being tailed by hitmen with a remote detonator.]]
* FictionalCounterpart: U-North might as well have been called Please-Don't-Sue-Us-Monsanto.
* HowWeGotHere
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Averted, since the main character is a graduate of St. John's University and Fordham Law School.
* LeaveTheCameraRunning: The final scene of Michael in the back of a cab
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Arthur Edens apparently had a crush on one of the plaintiffs in the class-action suit. This convinces him to stop his meds.
* LoveRedeems: Arthur's love for one of the plaintiffs caused him to change his position and supply evidence that could bring the company down.
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Well, like a suicide.
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comes directly from an illustration from Michael's son's fantasy book and it [[spoiler:saves Michael from the car bomb.]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Divine intervention?]]
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Arthur.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him. Karen Crowder is put in the position of protecting U-North and resorts to assassination. The assassins themselves are respectable business-types who take jobs while teeing off at the country club. Everyone is simply doing their job. In case we miss it, the opening scenes have Michael clocking in with his ID badge on the way to work.
* [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]]: Arthur to the fullest.
* ShoutOut: I ''hope'' Clayton's kid's parents didn't actually let him watch ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' before getting him an Eva...
* StepfordSmiler: Karen must arduously construct her aura of confidence. Scenes cut back and forth between the poised professional she seems to be on the job and the nervous wreck she is behind the scenes.
* TheAtoner: Arthur.
* TheSpock: Michael Clayton.
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Arthur, then Michael.
* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill Michael Clayton or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
* VillainousBreakdown: Literally, as Karen begins to fall apart while Clayton berates her, then starts shaking like a leaf and outright collapses to the floor as her crimes are revealed and the police move in to arrest her, to the point where they actually hold off on cuffing her because they fear she might need medical attention.
----
It centers on [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Michael Clayton]]. Michael Clayton is a "fixer" -- a person who solves difficult situations by tampering with the legal system -- at the New York City law firm Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen. Clayton finds himself embroiled in a case involving his mentally-unstable colleague, Arthur Edens, and the agricultural conglomerate his firm is representing in a class-action lawsuit.
----
!!This Film Provides Examples Of:
* AmoralAttorney: Deconstructed and subverted throughout.
** Karen fits this to a tee in what she does [[PunchClockVillain on the job]], but that job leaves her highly [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil neurotic and edgy]].
** Marty (the managing partner of the firm) has a line that sums this trope up perfectly: [[spoiler: "This case reeked from day one. Fifteen years in and I got to tell you how we pay the rent?"]]
** Arthur is an example of this who starts off the movie with a HeelFaceTurn.
** And the main arc of the movie [[spoiler: is Michael doing the same turn]].
* {{Blackmail}}:
* CallBack: Arthur uses an UnusualEuphemism- "You think you got the horses for that?" to stand in for guts or something of the like. Later when Michael is driving on a deserted stretch of road, he notices a small herd grazing on a hill and is reminded of Arthur. Arthur's comment inadvertently saves Michael's life.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: U-North.
* DefaultToGood: Several examples.
* DyeingForYourArt: TildaSwinton (Karen) gained a lot of weight in preparation for her role.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Michael essentially has to cash in his career, and quite possibly the firm he works for, to do the right thing.
* EngineeredPublicConfession
* ExternalCombustion: DoubleSubversion: we see all the usual car-focus foreshadowing, then nothing happens. Later on, the car suddenly explodes while Michael happens to not be in it, and we don't find out until the end of the film that [[spoiler:he was being tailed by hitmen with a remote detonator.]]
* FictionalCounterpart: U-North might as well have been called Please-Don't-Sue-Us-Monsanto.
* HowWeGotHere
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Averted, since the main character is a graduate of St. John's University and Fordham Law School.
* LeaveTheCameraRunning: The final scene of Michael in the back of a cab
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Arthur Edens apparently had a crush on one of the plaintiffs in the class-action suit. This convinces him to stop his meds.
* LoveRedeems: Arthur's love for one of the plaintiffs caused him to change his position and supply evidence that could bring the company down.
* MakeItLookLikeAnAccident: Well, like a suicide.
* MagicRealism: The scene with the horses: it comes directly from an illustration from Michael's son's fantasy book and it [[spoiler:saves Michael from the car bomb.]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Divine intervention?]]
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Crazy lawyer? Sleuthing friend? Best call in a hitman!
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone
* ObfuscatingInsanity: Arthur.
* ProfessionalKiller
* PunchClockVillain: Basically the point of the film. Kenner, Bach, & Ledeen profits off of protecting Punch Clock Villains like the insidious U-North corporation, to the point that Arthur's guilt finally gets the better of him. Karen Crowder is put in the position of protecting U-North and resorts to assassination. The assassins themselves are respectable business-types who take jobs while teeing off at the country club. Everyone is simply doing their job. In case we miss it, the opening scenes have Michael clocking in with his ID badge on the way to work.
* [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]]: Arthur to the fullest.
* ShoutOut: I ''hope'' Clayton's kid's parents didn't actually let him watch ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' before getting him an Eva...
* StepfordSmiler: Karen must arduously construct her aura of confidence. Scenes cut back and forth between the poised professional she seems to be on the job and the nervous wreck she is behind the scenes.
* TheAtoner: Arthur.
* TheSpock: Michael Clayton.
* ToBeLawfulOrGood: Arthur, then Michael.
* TroubleEntendre: In a very vague discussion between Karen and one of her spies, it gets so confusing for the spy that he outright asks if she wants him to go kill Michael Clayton or not; the whole scene is incredibly chilling.
* VillainousBreakdown: Literally, as Karen begins to fall apart while Clayton berates her, then starts shaking like a leaf and outright collapses to the floor as her crimes are revealed and the police move in to arrest her, to the point where they actually hold off on cuffing her because they fear she might need medical attention.
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