Question for the smart IMDB people

You have the ending correct. Michelle paid for Julian's defense and lied to provide an alibi. This decision had major consequences for her. She was a high-profile senator's wife. By doing so, she risked giving up her marriage, her reputation, social stature, the media scrutiny, and destroying her husband's career. That's why it took her so long to finally decide to "come forward" to the detectives. She realized Leon, Ann, and Lisa were doing nothing to help Julian in his peril and he was left with no one to corroborate his whereabouts.

However, Michelle was so certain of Julian's innocence (and we presume she was also falling in love with him) she could not stand by and witness such an injustice take place. Her selfless act is what moves Julian so deeply at the end.

As has been mentioned in other threads, AG was intentionally made as an ambiguous film. There is no absolute proof from the evidence provided to the viewer that Julian is either guilty or innocent. The "did he really do it?" element of the plot is part of the story.

Julian says, "Oh, Baby, I wish we had been" because he is lying to protect her. In fact, he is trying to convince her that they were NOT together the night of the murder. And the fact is, he is trying to protect her from scandal. Doesn't he have a scene with her at a restaurant where he says, "don't you know what a scandal IS???" He wants to spare her the devastation. You are not supposed to believe him when he says that.

But later in the movie, Michelle comes to realize that he is protecting her and keeping the name out of the spotlight. She was not lying to the cops to protect Julian. He was trying to lie to her so that she wouldn't get dragged in any deeper than she was.