The Big Picture · Discussion
March 19, 2025/ 39 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins
The first entry in Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins's year-long 25-for-25 countdown of the century's best films. No. 25 is Tony Gilroy's Michael Clayton; they lay out the project's rules before making the case for it.
1 films across 1 segment.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
No. 25: ‘Michael Clayton’the 25-for-25 countdown begins
Tony Gilroy's directing debut, and the pick to open the list. It's a writer's movie, people talking in rooms. Clooney plays against his own charm as a law-firm fixer, Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton (who won for it) get showy supporting turns, and Sydney Pollack plays the boss. Seven Oscar nominations, a shade under two hours. The hosts call it the last great example of a mid-budget adult drama Hollywood doesn't make anymore.
Also mentioned raised along the way
The rest of 2007 No Country for Old MenThere Will Be BloodZodiacAmerican GangsterThe Great Debaters
Clooney elsewhere SyrianaOut of SightOcean's Eleven
Sydney Pollack Out of AfricaThree Days of the CondorThe Way We WereTootsieEyes Wide Shut
Touchstones Working GirlA Knight's TaleStar Wars: The Last Jedi
List business King RichardA Minecraft MovieThe Alto Knights
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV AndorGame of Thrones
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