Rent The Counsellor (2013)

Excessively lewd and sadistically violent drug smuggling drama - The Counsellor review by DR

The plot comes from a novel by Cormac McCarthy and in essence it should have been a good production, but it wasn't.

In the film, the story line is quite hard to follow. There is no sensible introduction, other than a lewd sex scene with no context or relevance. There is a denouement at which certain things become clear, but in the highjack of the drugs shipment it is difficult to understand whose operatives are at work, and what is the arrangement if any between the character played by Brad Pitt and anybody else.

Crime Thriller far Better Than Claimed - The Counsellor review by GI

Director Ridley Scott's elaborate and convoluted tale about greed centred in the world of drug trafficking. It's a thriller that is visually impressive, has a very complex script courtesy of novelist Cormac McCarthy, a highly impressive cast and some real shocking moments. It's a modern crime film told in an epic style that probably needs a couple of viewings to really appreciate it properly but it really is worth it. Michael Fassbender is criminal lawyer (or counsellor in American parlance) who has a lavish lifestyle. He is deeply in love with his beautiful fiancée, Laura (Penélope Cruz) but finds his finances can't match the life he wants for them. He thinks the easy solution is to fund a one off big drug deal where he can realise a massive profit. He arranges this through his client and dodgy nightclub owner, Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Westray (Brad Pitt), a go between with the cartel that imports the drugs. But things go quickly awry when, unknown to everyone, Reiner's girlfriend, Malkina (Cameron Diaz) sees an opportunity to enrich herself and arranges for the drug shipment to go missing. This has serious implications for the Counsellor. Admittedly the film has some long talking scenes that slows the flow but when things begin to happen you get the typical Scott action set pieces that are tough and brutal. This director's films are always worth your time and this underrated one is far better than it's reputation. It's not his best but definitely a cut above anything similar. If you like your crime films realistic and adult then look no further.

A slick disappointment - The Counsellor review by CP Customer

Ridley Scott, you can do so much better! A film full of stars and a sense of self-congratulation.. But not well-deserved in my view. The grim end to Mr Pitt seemed absurd. It was hard to feel anything about any of the characters including the protagonist who appeared utterly one-dimensional. The normally skilled actors hammed it up for all they were worth, and the 'meaningful' monologues were..not! I initially didn't know what was going on - and later I simply didn't care.

A straight-up masterpiece which shows how greed can destory everything (Extended version reviewed) - The Counsellor review by TB

This review is, as mentioned above, for the extended version (Only available on Blu-Ray.) I have seen both versions and by far the extended is the better of the two. Whilst the theatrical is still excellent, to me the extended is the one to watch.

I loved this film. Loved, loved, loved, loved it. It is the first script written by Cormac McCarthy, based on an original idea. It totally ignores the usual tropes of cinema. Characters speak in no way like in the real world. There are many scenes of heavy dialogue/discussions, some of which go to completely unexpected places. The scenery and cinematography is perfect. And the best part is when things start to go wrong, they really go badly, horribly wrong. No punches are pulled in this film, and believe me, it earns it's 18 rating.

In many ways, it's like a weird flip of the plot of Sexy Beast and they do share some of the same DNA. But unlike films where it is always "I just want to do one deal then get out" and then get further into that world, The Counsellor (his name is never given) genuinely wants only to do one deal. Which makes it all the more tragic when everything goes wrong.

The roll call of actors is also incredible, even in bit parts. Bruno Ganz, Toby Kebbell and John Leguizamo turn up for memorable moments and especially Kebbell is great with what is basically a 5 minute interlude. Fassbender continued his streak of great lead roles. His Counsellor is many things, but also I loved how he still thought even at the end he could bargain, negotiate and smooth his way out of the total horror of what he was involved in. Brad Pitt as the middle man was also a great role, knowing exactly what he was in, but also amusingly feeling he could escape the fate that he was predicting for others. Cameron Diaz plays against type and this provides dividends. It was also great to see Javier Bardem and Penelopé Cruz on screen together again.

But everything was totally overshadowed by the flawless scene between Rubén Blades's character and The Counsellor. Again, with around 10 minutes of screen time, Blades gives a masterclass in film acting. To me, this was the same level as Michael Stuhlbarg's speech at the end of Call Me By Your Name or Ewan McGregor's phone call in The Impossible. It was, to me, a scene so good it could almost stand alone as it's own separate short film. I don't want to say any more, as to not ruin the moment, but it is perfection.

For some, The Counsellor will be too violent, too talky, too long, too boring ect ect. To me, this totally misses the point. This is a world where "The normal rules of exchange do not apply." This is McCarthy's world, where the calvary do not come, where the paybacks are horrific and nothing can stop the onslaught.

A masterpiece