Today’s quick review: The Counselor. To solve his money woes and marry his sweetheart Laura (Penelope Cruz), an El Paso defense attorney (Michael Fassbender) joins Reiner (Javier Bardem), a wealthy entrepreneur, and Westray (Brad Pitt), a shady middleman, in a drug smuggling operation worth $20 million. But the meddling of Malkina (Cameron Diaz), Reiner’s scheming girlfriend, throws the plan off-track and puts all their lives in danger.
The Counselor is a gritty crime drama written by Cormac McCarthy and directed by Ridley Scott. The Counselor features a dark tone, a complex story, capable writing and direction, and an impressive cast. However, the film does not come together the way it should. Its mature content and open-ended plot make it a taxing watch, while the story’s missing pieces, passive nature, and unsatisfying resolution keep it from having its intended impact.
How much you get out of The Counselor will depend heavily on your taste. At its core, The Counselor is the tale of a man who gets in over his head with a drug cartel, becoming the victim of a complicated double-cross. The story will appeal to those who like the darker side of the crime genre, laced with graphic violence and foreboding. But the trap is almost too perfect, giving Michael Fassbender’s character very little counterplay to the looming danger.
The execution of the premise in general leaves something to be desired. Key points of the story are left for the viewer to fill in, including the exact nature of the scheme and the players involved. The supporting details of the story, such as the main character’s occupation as a lawyer, play almost no role whatsoever. The dialogue also skews philosophical, with at least four or five speeches that are loftier than anything else around them.
Give The Counselor a shot if you’re a fan of dark, nihilistic crime movies. The Counselor has most of the elements it needs to be a compelling watch, but the way they’re assembled lacks the cohesion the best films in the genre have to offer. There’s value to be had for the right viewer, but those hoping for a tightly written story should steer clear. Skip it if you’re sensitive to violence or prefer movies with more active leads.
For a violent, artistic crime thriller with more action, check out Sicario. For a sprawling tale of greed and revenge from Cormac McCarthy, try No Country For Old Men. For a violent story in a similar vein with a lower budget and better twists, try The Hollow Point. For a multifaceted look at the drug trade, check out Traffic.
5.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent pieces that don’t quite form a complete puzzle.