BUT CAN THE FOCUS BE ADJUSTED?

This movie’s going to be a tough sell unless it gets serious awards buzz. Here’s the synopsis:

Tony Gilroy (screenwriter, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY) wrote and makes his feature directorial debut with this gripping legal drama about an in-house "fixer" at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. Michael Clayton (George Clooney) takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen’s dirtiest work at the behest of the firm’s co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). Though burned out and hardly content with his job, Michael Clayton faces a divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt, all of which have left him inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the multi-million dollar settlement that Clayton’s firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach’s brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life. Produced by Sydney Pollack, Jennifer Fox, Steven Samuels and Kerry Orent, MICHAEL CLAYTON is a Mirage Enterprises/Section Eight production. The film is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Samuels Media and Castle Rock Entertainment.

Probably not a lot of opportunities for Clooney to nail a guy in the windpipe with a book. But come on, no matter how the film turns out, doesn’t it kind of give you a boner that there is still some money to spent out there to make an adult-oriented* drama like this? Michael Clayton, you have a terrible and generic title, but you make my little movie fan heart beat fast. I’ll be seeing this sucker next week, and here’s to hoping it’s great.