Question regarding Michael Clayton (spoilers)

[soleft]

There's a scene where Arthur records audio of UNorth promos, then plays it back loudly as he reads portions of the damaging report into the phone. This is heard by the private security firm (hitmen) who are listening in.

Who did he call?

[Dawgs]

1. Good point. I saw it last night and can't think of who he called.

Obviously it didn't matter, but still a good point.

[soleft]

2. As a screenwriter, I agonize over plausibility

Because as an audience member, if something illogical takes me out of the story, then my enjoyment of the movie is diminished.

Ok, you need something to push him over the edge so the general counsel decides he has to be put down. So you need to have the hitmen hear him doing something that makes him too dangerous. Just make it clear to me who he's calling so i don't have to sit there for five minutes anticipating some plot point that's never going to happen. That's all I'm asking. Unless it was clear and I just missed it.

[Sadie4629]

3. I just saw the movie last weekend

and I wondered the same thing. I don't know how phone taps work, but is it possible he wasn't talking to anyone? Just a dial tone? He addresses those listening in, so whomever he may have been talking to wasn't the primary recipient of his message.

[soleft]

4. At that point

he knew he was be tapped right? So then you're saying his point was to simply be overheard by the tappers?

[Sadie4629]

5. That's what I thought

because at the beginning of the call he specifically addresses the 'tappers.' But, does a phone tap work that way, or would he have had to actually make a call in order to be listened to?

[CoffeeCat]

6. I assumed that he just picked up the phone...

...and was addressing the tappers--who he knew were there.

I didn't think twice about this when I was watching the scene. I just assumed that
he was playing to those who he knew were listening--and he knew they would be there
when he picked up the phone.

[soleft]

7. And he did this because of his...

mental/emotional instability?

[CoffeeCat]

8. He did it to tell those corporate pieces...

...of trash that he was onto their game, and to put the truth in their
ears.

I thought he was mocking them, and letting them know that he was no longer
going to be a container--holding their lies. He was spilling it, and letting
them know how much they sickened him.

I never looked at his "emotionally unstable" moments as weak moments. The man
spent his entire life and career in denial--and schleping for murderous, corporate
sociopaths. When he began to finally deal with that fact, his emotions also
unraveled.

He appeared imbalanced, but really--he was just purging the shame, and feeling the
emotional brunt of what he had done. Those profound emotions of anger, sorrow
and disgust--were signs of health and of a man coming to terms with who he was and how
dispicable the chemical company was.

The other corporate shills--who appeared to be holding up very well--were the sick ones.
They were able to get through the day, smile and go about their business as they
polluted and murdered. Who is more emotionally stable...the willing cancer-causing
corporate dogs or the man who is finally coming to grips with the harsh reality, and wanting
to do something about it?

I thought his phone call was an emotional triumph. He was mocking them and breaking the bonds
of silence.

[Forkboy]

10. That was my take, only in a lot less words.

:D

[soleft]

11. But if his mental state had no bearing on the call

Shouldn't he have been savvy enough to know that making such a call could have life threatening consequences?

He has a young woman flying in to meet him. If he's not impaired because of his bi-polar disorder, shouldn't he be keeping a low profile to not only protect himself, but protect her?

[nytemare]

9. It was a booty call to Karen Crowder.

With an obviously unintended effect.

:D

[Dave_Fl_50]

12. To his own voicemail at work