Michael Clayton: That Riveting Opening Scene
Dir: Tony Gilroy. Length: 1h 59m. Budget: $25M
Some films are so well-written and so meticulously directed that, after a few viewings, you can tell they're teaching you how to write and even direct. Michael Clayton, written and directed by Tony Gilroy, is one of those films that has attained that prestige. It was ironically released in the same year as No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood.
The characters, the narrative, and the conflict are what make Michael Clayton so good. To be a successful writer, you must have an engaging storyline and understand how to carefully exploit it. Director Gilroy adheres strictly to that rule to create a gripping legal thriller. There are no fast-cut scenes or dazzling action set pieces. What makes Michael Clayton so compelling is the dialogue and the drama.
One other important element when it comes to Michael Clayton is the opening sequence. The opening scenes, I think, are always important, but they're also unique creatures that call for a distinct tone, style, and even emotion. Campbell's Casino Royale, for example, isn't a film noir, but the opening scene's black-and-white photography captures our attention from the minute Bond is seen sitting silently in the shadows. This isn’t a sly ploy; rather, it’s an attempt to draw us into the film. Our senses are also immediately drawn to Michael Clayton thanks to its riveting opening scene. It captures interest and is hard to look away from.
The film opens with a black screen and cuts to the silhouette of office buildings gleaming at night. The voiceover of our character Arthur Edens, played by the legendary Tom Wilkinson, is possibly one of the greatest opening monologues ever. The speech is so powerful, real, and explosive that you have to see and hear it to believe it. Gilroy shows us inside the corporate offices and halls, illustrating how crowded these areas will get in a matter of hours. We find ourselves in a law firm that is going to be going through a merger while also providing high-stakes litigation defense to an agricultural behemoth, U-North.
Deep in its subtext, Michael Clayton emphasizes the significance of moral obligations. It forces us to engage with men who, in a brutal world that is willing to devour you alive, are desperate to find peace. It is a story about the struggle for atonement, deep below. Michael Clayton will always be a cogent thriller, and it will constantly have you on the edge of your seat.