# Fuck "Michael Clayton," elder kino god of the new adult boredom epoch **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164 "2008-02-26T01:14:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/21 "2008-02-26T03:19:15Z")
Looking at IMDBs top 250, there are some real stinkers. Here are my SLDKJFSDJFSDJGSDJFDSesque reviews **The Godfather** a film about some guy who you only meet at birthdays and weddings. **Schindler’s List** must be a film about some guy who writes some words on a clipboard **Rear Window** a film about glass. Must be boring. **North by Northwest** a film about a compass bearing **M** what were the producers thinking? **Jaws** a film about dentistry??? ---
**Author:** ![mike\_ahndembroak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mike\_ahndembroak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike_ahndembroak)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/22 "2008-02-26T03:28:39Z")
Forrest Gump is an even dumber name and looked how that turned out! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/23 "2008-02-26T03:40:38Z")
I rented _Kramer vs. Kramer_ because the title sounded interesting- who wouldn’t want to see the wacky neighbor from _Seinfeld_ fight his evil clone? But when I got it home, I think somebody at the video store put the wrong movie in the wrong box- it was this thing about this husband and wife who divorced suing over the custody of their child. Somebody at that video store’s gonna end up upside down with a fuckin’ fork up their ass- unless, of course, I end up enjoying this documentary about celebrity feuds I also rented. I think it’s called _Star Wars_. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/24 "2008-02-26T03:47:26Z")
Why not rent _Michael Collins_ and make it a double feature? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/25 "2008-02-26T04:25:40Z")
I’m with pretty much everyone else here. I’d heard of “Michael Clayton” and didn’t know much about it until one of my friends who doesn’t work in the film industry said that he’d seen it and it was the best movie he’d seen in 2007. I finally saw it this weekend - not the best, but certainly very good. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/26 "2008-02-26T05:49:18Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] Why not rent _Michael Collins_ and make it a double feature? [/QUOTE] Or better yet, order a vodka Collins, and make _it_ a double! ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/27 "2008-02-26T06:55:21Z")
I didn’t read the OP, except for the title, and I found it to be agressively and actively boring. Nobody I know had ever heard of this post before last night, and by “nobody I know” I mean people who actively make message boards and follow the message board industry. Nobody ever read this OP, and nobody ever will. It’s not even a post, it’s the black hit of space in digital versatile form, a black hole that will eat us all. Did I mention that I didn’t actually read it? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/28 "2008-02-26T07:25:59Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] The answer is to engineer a movie like “Michael Clayton” and give it awards, to create the illusion that “the adults” are still in control. [/QUOTE] This also explains the Grammys, which should really be retitled the “What Trophies Shall We Hand to Elton John, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen, and Other Selected Artists Who We Still Like Even Though the Radio Doesn’t Play Them Any More? Awards”. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/29 "2008-02-26T07:53:00Z")
**TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW** is complaining about poor naming choices? The irony, it makes one’s eyes water! I liked it. It was a good movie. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/30 "2008-02-26T10:03:08Z")
Just wanted to say that I’ve seen this movie couple of months ago and liked it very much - a lot more than “No country for old men”. Plus, there is Tilda Svinton. And the best final scene I’ve seen in a long time. Rapid-fire negotiations that are verbal equivalent to crashing through glass roof simultaneously shooting pistols in both hands… The way he made her confess to everything and propose him bribe… I left movie theater really impressed. To write, direct and play scene like this really requires top-end movie making skills. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/31 "2008-02-26T10:12:55Z")
I am going to take the OP as inspiration. When I write my next review for the magazine at work I will restrict it to a review of the title and trailer only without actually seeing the movie. Of course I will inform my readers of these facts. I’ll let you know how I get on. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/32 "2008-02-26T10:58:04Z")
Hey, _Glengarry Glen Ross_ is an amazingly tense, suspenseful and interesting movie, and it’s about real estate salesmen - the vast majority of the film takes place in a dingy office. It’s totally possible for movies about dry, seemingly-boring “adult” topics to be highly entertaining - it’s all about the story and the acting. The OP might actually find he enjoyed the movie if he gave it a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/33 "2008-02-26T11:15:25Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Hey, _Glengarry Glen Ross_ . . . [/QUOTE] Yeah, all that, but it’s got a snappy title, so it must be OK by our esteemed original poster. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/34 "2008-02-26T11:26:22Z")
In the spirit of the OP: I’ve personally never seen Titanic. So clearly it’s an unknown film and shouldn’t have won any Oscars. Nobody ever watched this, and nobody ever will. It’s not even a movie, it’s the black hit of space in digital versatile form, a black hole that will eat us all. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/35 "2008-02-26T11:38:03Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] Why not rent _Michael Collins_ and make it a double feature? [/QUOTE] [My proudest Michael Collins-related post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6945573&postcount=30) Anyway, I’m just now watching _The Astronaut Farmer_ which has a moderating compelling title, but this movie _sucks!_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/36 "2008-02-26T12:38:56Z")
Well, I gave _The Astronaut Farmer_ a fair shake. This movie is stoooooooopid. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/37 "2008-02-26T12:54:50Z")
Good point about Hamlet; I should have used _David Copperfield_ as an example. But my point was there’s a long tradition of books, plays, and movies named for a character. And what would be a better title? It’s a morality play; the title character is at the center of it and is a really strong character. I was surprised to see it nominated for an original screenplay Oscar, because I assumed it was adapted from a novel, and was thinking of trying to find the novel to read it. A lot of movies have sort of generic titles. Consider these: _Primal Fear_. _Jagged Edge_. _Presumed Innocent_. Different movies, but those titles could have been swapped around amongst them and still made sense. So, pick a better title for _Michael Clayton_. If I had to change it, I might go with _Different Dreams_. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/38 "2008-02-26T12:59:15Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] So, pick a better title for _Michael Clayton_. [/QUOTE] To do that the OP would have to actualy watch the movie :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/39 "2008-02-26T13:10:22Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] Different movies, but those titles could have been swapped around amongst them and still made sense. [/QUOTE] Consider these Steven Seagal titles: _Urban Justice Mercenary for Justice Today You Die Into the Sun Out of Reach Out for a Kill Half Past Dead Exit Wounds Fire Down Below On Deadly Ground Under Siege Out for Justice Marked for Death Hard to Kill Above the Law_ Can any but the most hard-core Seagal fans tell these movies apart? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164/40 "2008-02-26T14:13:43Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Anyway, I’m just now watching _The Astronaut Farmer_ which has a moderating compelling title, but this movie _sucks!_ [/QUOTE] Why on earth would you watch that movie? I’m calling the looney bin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-michael-clayton-elder-kino-god-of-the-new-adult-boredom-epoch/439164.md?page=3)