During the entire movie, and even when the movie ends, we are left with the question: Who is Michael Clayton? He's such a mysterious and enigmatic character, and the film's direction does well to elude explanations and mislead the audience. From the beginning we are confused, and are led to believe that a hit and run accident will be the source of  trouble for Michael Clayton. Yet we jump back four years, and the hit and run is not really significant. This happens throughout, where minor details seem to be gigantic to us at the time until we find out that they aren't a big part of the movie. Even the end toys with you, showing Clooney sitting in a cab taking a drive. It focuses on Clooney's face throughout half of the credits, leaving us to believe something will happen later on — but it doesn't. It's another trick that the filmmakers pulled to play with our expectations.

I have to applaud Michael Clayton for giving us something to think about. Not only does the film mimic its theme, it uses its catch phrase to its advantage. "The truth can be adjusted" — and it has been here as well, making the audience misstep and surmise incorrectly throughout, leaving us confused and fully enjoying it.