The Counselor
Michael Fassbender stars in this Ridley Scott (Prometheus) thriller about a respected lawyer who's one-time dalliance with an illegal business deal spirals out of control. From the mind of Pulitzer Prize winning writer Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men). Co-stars Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz and Brad Pitt.
- Director:
- Ridley Scott ('Prometheus', 'American Gangster', 'Body of Lies', 'Alien', 'Blade Runner')
- Writer:
- Cormac McCarthy
- Cast:
- Michael FassbenderPenélope CruzJavier BardemCameron DiazBrad PittJohn LeguizamoDean Norris
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressThe script is nearly all dialogue, including several eloquent spoken passages toward the end, but it’s a lousy story, ineptly constructed and rendered far too difficult to follow.
Total Film
pressAn absorbing thriller that favours vivid characters, profound ideas and Old Testament morals over propulsive plotting and set-pieces. With lots of blood.
Time Out
pressFor every camp element like Javier Bardem’s rainbow-vomit outfits or Diaz’s onanistic tryst with a car windshield, there are a dozen poetic-pulp moments that channel McCarthy’s pitiless view of the world to a tee.
The New York Times
pressTerrifying, implacable... Mr. Scott’s seriousness isn’t always well served by the scripts he films, but in Mr. McCarthy he has found a partner with convictions about good and evil rather than canned formula.
The Guardian
pressWorking as a screenwriter for the first time after years of seeing his novels successfully adapted to the screen, McCarthy is stretching his powers of language and mood – and, all too quickly, stretching his slim story and cast of characters way too far.
The Dissolve
pressMcCarthy’s voice comes through strongly enough to excuse the film’s excesses and cast its more generic plot elements in a new light.
Hollywood Reporter
pressDespite its scaldingly hot cast and formidable writer/director combination, The Counselor is simply not a very likable or gratifying film. In fact, it's a bummer.
Empire Magazine
pressRidley Scott finally gets to put Cormac McCarthy on the screen. It’s no No Country, but despite its less successful elements is shocking, powerful and — this just in — more gorgeously written than any movie you’ll see this year.
Well I kinda liked it. Saw it on a flight back from SFO, and it was engaging and tense. I'm surprised some people said it bounced around (the film, not the plane), but that showed how 'adrift' the principal character was. The movie stayed with me, long after the flight.
The storyline bounces from character to character and you are guessing what is about to happen next. The fact that the actors performances demand your attention you can pick up on all the hints and you suspect what is looming in the not too distant future, twisted and cunning... You would be silly to get involved. Wouldn't say an enjoyable watch but...
Well, the previews looked good, guessing the paid reviewers did their job, but really, this movie was a waste of time, was all over the place, would not recommend it at all.
One of the most promising movies this year. My expectations were high in Ridley Scott and the talented cast including Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem. It's not bad, but considering the amount of potential, The Counselor is a major disappointment. The screenplay, written by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy is one of the film's highlights....
The story goes around and around and halfway through the movie you will probably still think that something wonderful is going to happen, but believe me.... nothing is going to happen! Save yourself the trouble and go and watch something else!
I would recommend this movie - Cormac McCarthy is a hard writer to like but his movies always make you think about them for days afterwards - he does do a few long moral conversations which might be a bit much for some . Don't go if you want something easy to understand although there is enough action in it to keep most people awake
Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, and some great lines are not enough to make this a good movie as there are just so many flaws. Cameron Diaz is hopelessly out of her depth (only Keira Knightley would have been a worse casting choice). Cormac McCarthy reaches new misogynist lows and gets carried away with too many monologues. The only award this film...
I really liked the film, the acting was great and every time Bardem or Diaz hit the screen I was mesmerised. having said that - the massive plot holes left me a bit confused and feeling a bit stupid. If I'd known going into it that the pasge of the drugs was nto the story but rather that the fallout was the main point I may have been slightly less confused...
The Counsellor 6/11/13 Well thank goodness I won these tickets. I would have hated to pay money for this move. It did have its moments. Penelope Cruz is beautiful, Cameron Diaz and a car was a wonderful scene. Pitt was Pitt. Some great humour. The baddie from sky fall and bobby sands from hunger. However these belied a movie whose plot was predictable (...
Variety
pressThe script is nearly all dialogue, including several eloquent spoken passages toward the end, but it’s a lousy story, ineptly constructed and rendered far too difficult to follow.
Total Film
pressAn absorbing thriller that favours vivid characters, profound ideas and Old Testament morals over propulsive plotting and set-pieces. With lots of blood.
Time Out
pressFor every camp element like Javier Bardem’s rainbow-vomit outfits or Diaz’s onanistic tryst with a car windshield, there are a dozen poetic-pulp moments that channel McCarthy’s pitiless view of the world to a tee.
The New York Times
pressTerrifying, implacable... Mr. Scott’s seriousness isn’t always well served by the scripts he films, but in Mr. McCarthy he has found a partner with convictions about good and evil rather than canned formula.
The Guardian
pressWorking as a screenwriter for the first time after years of seeing his novels successfully adapted to the screen, McCarthy is stretching his powers of language and mood – and, all too quickly, stretching his slim story and cast of characters way too far.
The Dissolve
pressMcCarthy’s voice comes through strongly enough to excuse the film’s excesses and cast its more generic plot elements in a new light.
Hollywood Reporter
pressDespite its scaldingly hot cast and formidable writer/director combination, The Counselor is simply not a very likable or gratifying film. In fact, it's a bummer.
Empire Magazine
pressRidley Scott finally gets to put Cormac McCarthy on the screen. It’s no No Country, but despite its less successful elements is shocking, powerful and — this just in — more gorgeously written than any movie you’ll see this year.
Well I kinda liked it. Saw it on a flight back from SFO, and it was engaging and tense. I'm surprised some people said it bounced around (the film, not the plane), but that showed how 'adrift' the principal character was. The movie stayed with me, long after the flight.
The storyline bounces from character to character and you are guessing what is about to happen next. The fact that the actors performances demand your attention you can pick up on all the hints and you suspect what is looming in the not too distant future, twisted and cunning... You would be silly to get involved. Wouldn't say an enjoyable watch but...
Well, the previews looked good, guessing the paid reviewers did their job, but really, this movie was a waste of time, was all over the place, would not recommend it at all.
One of the most promising movies this year. My expectations were high in Ridley Scott and the talented cast including Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt and Javier Bardem. It's not bad, but considering the amount of potential, The Counselor is a major disappointment. The screenplay, written by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy is one of the film's highlights....
The story goes around and around and halfway through the movie you will probably still think that something wonderful is going to happen, but believe me.... nothing is going to happen! Save yourself the trouble and go and watch something else!
I would recommend this movie - Cormac McCarthy is a hard writer to like but his movies always make you think about them for days afterwards - he does do a few long moral conversations which might be a bit much for some . Don't go if you want something easy to understand although there is enough action in it to keep most people awake
Javier Bardem, Michael Fassbender, and some great lines are not enough to make this a good movie as there are just so many flaws. Cameron Diaz is hopelessly out of her depth (only Keira Knightley would have been a worse casting choice). Cormac McCarthy reaches new misogynist lows and gets carried away with too many monologues. The only award this film...
I really liked the film, the acting was great and every time Bardem or Diaz hit the screen I was mesmerised. having said that - the massive plot holes left me a bit confused and feeling a bit stupid. If I'd known going into it that the pasge of the drugs was nto the story but rather that the fallout was the main point I may have been slightly less...
The Counsellor 6/11/13 Well thank goodness I won these tickets. I would have hated to pay money for this move. It did have its moments. Penelope Cruz is beautiful, Cameron Diaz and a car was a wonderful scene. Pitt was Pitt. Some great humour. The baddie from sky fall and bobby sands from hunger. However these belied a movie whose plot was predictable (...
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