The Counselor
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: October 25, 2013
5.7
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 306 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
130
Mixed:
90
Negative:
86
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0
grabnar55Oct 25, 2013
Holy this was just god awful, dialogue is not human, women are treated as nothing but sex objects, minorities are all portrayed as bad, there's no discernible characters development, it's just awful save your money
16 of 23 users found this helpful167
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0
amboyNov 4, 2013
This film is why the term "hot mess" was coined. Its writer is more interested in his familiar theory that we are all becoming dehumanized and that the world is coming to an end. Perhaps, but could we spend our last days watching films withThis film is why the term "hot mess" was coined. Its writer is more interested in his familiar theory that we are all becoming dehumanized and that the world is coming to an end. Perhaps, but could we spend our last days watching films with coherent plots, believable characters. It is risible to hear drug cartel figures spout about inevitability.… Expand
7 of 7 users found this helpful70
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0
rte76Nov 4, 2013
What a disappointment with this cast. Clumsy plot and bad sequencing. Do not waste your time or money on this one. Getting mugged is a better investment than seeing this film.
5 of 5 users found this helpful50
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0
ypomoniJan 11, 2014
There was nothing for me to like about this movie. The story evolves around a Counsellor and the people surrounding him. For reasons unbeknown to us he decides to go into the drug business, and pseudo-intellectual existential dialoguesThere was nothing for me to like about this movie. The story evolves around a Counsellor and the people surrounding him. For reasons unbeknown to us he decides to go into the drug business, and pseudo-intellectual existential dialogues between the protagonists ensue, with the main focus being on greed and how sexual everything appears to them. Cheetahs chasing jackrabbits is sexual, a yellow Ferrari is so sexual that Diaz' character decides to make-out with it (yes, you read that correctly). The Counsellor is constantly being counselled on life and it's meaning by philosophical drug-dealers and cartel members. The tediousness of these overdrawn, often repetitive and rather self-indulged exchanges make the film feel so ill paced. The chemistry between the two main couples (Fassbender-Cruz, Bardem-Diaz) was non-existent. The characters are hardly developed. Were we suppose to empathise with the Counsellor? The acting was NOT good. The ultimate attraction to this film, for me, was the cast who in it's majority has seldom - if ever - let me down. And yet, here, even they were, to put it mildly, not on top form. The emphasis had been given on the aforementioned dialogue, something that was more obvious when the main plot of the film became increasingly convoluted and thus hard to follow. At the end all I felt was content that it was over. This is, unfortunately, the worst film I've seen this year.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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0
ingleJan 31, 2014
Whenever I watch such "movies" I feel ashamed for their "creators". I myself don't even feel insulted by the garbage they threw at me from the screen disdain for moviegoers has become common place nowadays. R.Scott was lucky to make couple ofWhenever I watch such "movies" I feel ashamed for their "creators". I myself don't even feel insulted by the garbage they threw at me from the screen disdain for moviegoers has become common place nowadays. R.Scott was lucky to make couple of good movies, since then all he cares about is money. What was he expecting the spectators to say after having watched the film? Amazing interiors", :"fast cheetahs", "Fassbinder licking muffin of Penelope Cruz who complains that it's dirty", "Queer Bardem", Diaz screwing the Ferrari" "Pitt loses his head due to idiotic device"... What a sham! But the worst part is dialogues. A good movie talking should do three things: move forward the plot, explore the characters, elicit some emotions. Here you have long imbecile speeches which try to pretend sexy, philosophic or smart. EVERY single person speaks as if they majored at ancient Greek literature. My god, what happened to good screenwriters? Studios should give the process back to independent producers, otherwise, in 5 years, people will go the cinemas just to eat some popcorn and play bowing… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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1
SleepyHollowFeb 8, 2014
This is one of the saddest excuse for a movie I have seen in a long time :( Two hours of my life that I will never get back. What a travesty. Sometimes ingredients just don't mix. I tried orange juice and cola once. Never again. Mr. ScottThis is one of the saddest excuse for a movie I have seen in a long time :( Two hours of my life that I will never get back. What a travesty. Sometimes ingredients just don't mix. I tried orange juice and cola once. Never again. Mr. Scott tried mixing philosophy, a megalomanic script and his own pretentious ego. This movie tries to convey some sort of sensuality about violence or what? Of course, I didn't 'get' the movie. But I'm glad I didn't. Oh, and don't be fooled by miss Diaz trying to pretend she can act. She can't. :(… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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0
rdjswDec 20, 2013
I recently viewed "12 Years a Slave" and as I was watching the brutality of this film I was constantly reminded of "The Counselor". These movies have absolutely nothing in common other than the simple fact that man just cannot help itsI recently viewed "12 Years a Slave" and as I was watching the brutality of this film I was constantly reminded of "The Counselor". These movies have absolutely nothing in common other than the simple fact that man just cannot help its hatred for its fellow man. This movie is the modern version of just that time when people were property and were totally expendable with no remorse or thought of them as humans. This a mess of a movie and I would beg you not to see it...the graphic and brutal violence in the film has not left my mind since the viewing and reminds me how far we have not come since the 1800s.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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0
jillyrFeb 1, 2014
This is a dishonest film. It is not what it says on the tin. From the trailer, cast, director, synopsis etc you are probably expecting a high octane, on the edge of your seat thriller, with a strong plot line and characters you can love orThis is a dishonest film. It is not what it says on the tin. From the trailer, cast, director, synopsis etc you are probably expecting a high octane, on the edge of your seat thriller, with a strong plot line and characters you can love or hate. Sorry but it does not give that at all. This simply is a self-indulgent film (self-indulgent by the writer), with actors badly delivering unintelligible lines of philosophic dialogue with neither rhyme nor reason as to how they got there and what their motives are. This is the sort of thing you would expect to have to sit through, not too willingly, when you have a very good friend who is taking screenplay classes and has to do an obscure showcase. Most students, if not all, refrain from applying a Hollywood budget, getting Ridley Scott to direct and having Brad Pitt et al in these showcases though and maybe McCarthy should have thought twice about having his screenplay debut in such a fashion and kept to the more traditional avenue of a few friends in a small theatre. I am sure his friends would have said nice things about it but I can't think of one.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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0
andytimberApr 6, 2014
One of the most depressing movies ever made. And surely one of the worst. I would rank it 2nd worst ever after Tree of Life which is simply untoppable. Non exisiting story, endless pointless scenes and pseudo-philosophical, yawn inducingOne of the most depressing movies ever made. And surely one of the worst. I would rank it 2nd worst ever after Tree of Life which is simply untoppable. Non exisiting story, endless pointless scenes and pseudo-philosophical, yawn inducing dialogue rivalling even Matrix III.

I find it hard to fathom that this trainwreck was directed by the same man who brought us Blade Runner, Alien, Gladiator and Thelma & Louise. Ridley, you should be ashamed of yourself.

PS.: Brad Pitt seems to become the ultimate seal of approval for crap movies: Benjamin Button, Babel, World War Z, Tree of Life and now this abomination. Next time I see his name on a DVD I'm gonna avoid it like the plague ...… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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0
csw12Apr 26, 2014
The Counselor is beyond terrible. From the moment it started to the very last scene, it irritated me so much because of how incomprehensible it was. From the long meaningless conversations to the poor directing, the counselor could not haveThe Counselor is beyond terrible. From the moment it started to the very last scene, it irritated me so much because of how incomprehensible it was. From the long meaningless conversations to the poor directing, the counselor could not have been made any worse.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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0
Trev29Apr 27, 2014
One of the worst movies I have seen in about a year. This proves that no matter who is attached to a film it could still be a disaster. Don't ask me what happened, I have no idea. Nor do I care.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
imsdwFeb 8, 2014
This movie was the most surprisingly, disappointed movie i've ever watch in 2013. With the A list casts and their actings, they can't help how mess this movie's plot. Really disappointed
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
OliRansonDec 17, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 3 points for Javier Bardem's wardrobe, 0 points for everything else.

Heineken.
And here's some more characters because I have nothing else to say about this film.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
jimmywalterFeb 16, 2014
While certainly not as gory and sexually exploitive as some, it is meaningless trash, as one other reviewer put it "a waste of talent" of some great stars who put in their usual good work. The plot is stupid. Not one of these characters hasWhile certainly not as gory and sexually exploitive as some, it is meaningless trash, as one other reviewer put it "a waste of talent" of some great stars who put in their usual good work. The plot is stupid. Not one of these characters has ever seen a spy or cartel movie? They don't protect themselves in any way. They go home and sit around? They are not suspicious of beautiful women who just happen to pass by and fall for them? They walk around the streets thinking they are invisible?… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
J-damMay 2, 2014
I'll start out with the pros. Good production value, acting was slightly north of mediocre. Moods set in the begging of the film are effective and moving. And the Cons. This movie was a disgusting display of a lack of respect for human life.I'll start out with the pros. Good production value, acting was slightly north of mediocre. Moods set in the begging of the film are effective and moving. And the Cons. This movie was a disgusting display of a lack of respect for human life. It's attempts to build a solid logical architecture behind the plot, causes it to be have unnecessary heaps endless of pseudo-philosophical monologues that are boring and ineffective. This is a film for the kind of person who watches an actual cartel beheading and is left asking "That's all?". This movie is incredibly brutal. This is coming from a gamer, in fact I enjoy the violent ones, even the most violent and gory ones. Hell I was in a better mood after watching "A Serbian Film" than when this movie's credit's rolled. The Counselor went way over the edge and into a dark unforgivable side of humanity, and I fear it may have left me with some permanent psychological scars that will probably never leave me. If that's what you're looking for, this is the movie for you.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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2
MetaJCMay 26, 2014
I can truly see why the overall score ratings are close for both, positive and negative, reviews. It all relies in the story, where must of all characters have a philosophical, similar kind of elevated speech which some cannot digest as beingI can truly see why the overall score ratings are close for both, positive and negative, reviews. It all relies in the story, where must of all characters have a philosophical, similar kind of elevated speech which some cannot digest as being veracious while others claim it was very " artsy" and intellectually attractive.
I am sorry, but I am in the first group. not even so many great actors can rescue this movie from its awful script.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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0
Mowens16Jul 14, 2014
Don't waste your time on this movie. Totally disjointed plot. The term "counselor" was used in every other sentence. Acting was pretty good all around, but even good actors couldn't salvage this trainwreck.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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1
lenny68Oct 27, 2013
Absolutely dreadful; a total dogs breakfast of a film. I can't think of a worse example of squandered potential in recent memory. if you are looking for a truer, scarier and altogether more believable portrayal of the drugs business, IAbsolutely dreadful; a total dogs breakfast of a film. I can't think of a worse example of squandered potential in recent memory. if you are looking for a truer, scarier and altogether more believable portrayal of the drugs business, I suggest looking no further than Breaking Bad.… Expand
7 of 8 users found this helpful71
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1
SimpleMethodOct 27, 2013
There's so much wrong with it on so many levels. With everyone involved, it quite frankly should have been a masterpiece, and is the absolute inverse of that. A complete trainwreck on every level. The movie is less than 2 hours long, but IThere's so much wrong with it on so many levels. With everyone involved, it quite frankly should have been a masterpiece, and is the absolute inverse of that. A complete trainwreck on every level. The movie is less than 2 hours long, but I was bored before the halfway mark and almost left multiple times. The most disappointing movie of the year.… Expand
7 of 8 users found this helpful71
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0
paulsmithNov 17, 2013
We went to see this film last night and I witnessed something I've never seen before. 50% of the audience got up and left during the film. The poor remaining few who stayed until the end in blind hope that the film can't really be this badWe went to see this film last night and I witnessed something I've never seen before. 50% of the audience got up and left during the film. The poor remaining few who stayed until the end in blind hope that the film can't really be this bad simply vocalised their opinions at the end shouting out "worst film ever", "no wonder people left"!! Anyone who rates this film higher than a 2 must be on the pay roll or trying to act like a critic and see something which really isn't there. The film is a confused blend of poor acting, guess work and an incredibly simple, boring plot line made overly complicated with pointless and annoying dialogue. This film could have been over in 15 minutes, that's how simple it it, yet through pointless boring and confused conversations it managed to get up to nearly 2 hours. I don't feel good writing this review as I admire many of the actors involved and the director but this is truly appalling and one of the worst films I've ever seen. If by writing this review I stop just one person going to see this film then I feel like my work is done. Avoid at all costs, poor script, poor acting, and poor direction make this film a total joke.… Expand
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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1
analogkid280Oct 28, 2013
What a bunch of cut scenes stapled together so they could call it a movie. I stuck around to the end only to see what the big payoff would of been but like the rest of the movie it just left me completely disappointed. The most upsettingWhat a bunch of cut scenes stapled together so they could call it a movie. I stuck around to the end only to see what the big payoff would of been but like the rest of the movie it just left me completely disappointed. The most upsetting thing about this so called story is that there is a real good movie in there somewhere. It is just the director and screenwriter completely dropped the ball. Better luck next time Brad Pitt.… Expand
8 of 10 users found this helpful82
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2
NightReviewsNov 11, 2013
In 2007, Michael Bay created a mega, summer movie blockbuster event that brought some incredible advances in special effects, a slew of unnecessary sequels and most importantly, made famous the incredibly sexy, sweaty grease-monkey characterIn 2007, Michael Bay created a mega, summer movie blockbuster event that brought some incredible advances in special effects, a slew of unnecessary sequels and most importantly, made famous the incredibly sexy, sweaty grease-monkey character Mikaela Banes, also knows as Megan Fox. If there is anything Michael Bay did right in that film, was give audience members as well as pop-culture enthusiasts one of the most memorable cinematic stills since Marilyn Monroe in 1954′s The Seven Year Itch. Leaning on the sizzling hood of Sam Witwicky’s 1976 Chevrolet Camaro’s hood, allowing the heat from the engine to soak Mikaela’s body with sweet sweat, Bay created eternal movie magic with that iconic scene. Since then, audiences, as well as critics alike, never thought that the day would come when an overly sexual image involving a car would ever come. Oh, it came!

The only difference between Diaz‘s Malkina’s outrageous car scene and Fox‘s iconic heated scene is that, Diaz and company wish they had as good a movie as Transformers on their hands and a film that people will actually care to watch and recommend, and that’s putting it nicely.

The Counselor seemed to have no advising or counseling on it at all, because director Ridley Scott and company deliver what is surely going to be one of the worst decisions in their careers in a long time. What looked like a thrilling game of cat and mouse, quickly becomes a dry, careless piece of gorgeous snuff.

The Counselor follows, well, the counselor (Michael Fassbender) as he navigates the waters of his first ever, illegal and immoral business venture of drug trafficking from Mexico across the United States boarder. That is pretty well everything you need to know and everything that is really told. Just like the lack to give a name to the lead, The Counselor is a cold, informal and perplexing film of too many characters and not enough explanation or purpose.

The Counselor shows the relationship between himself and his gorgeous wife Laura (Penelope Cruz), his relationship with people in the underworld including Westray (Brad Pitt) a middle man between professionals and the cartels, Reiner (Javier Bardem) a man of means, and Malkina (Cameron Diaz) the lavish girlfriend of Reiner. Other than that, things go from bad, to worse, in both the narrative of the film, and the film itself.

Lacking any real storyline or empathetic characters, The Counselor serves as an ill-advised example of the power within Hollywood. Following in the footsteps of other complete disaster ensemble films like this year’s Movie 43 and The Coen Brother’s 2008 tragedy Burn After Reading, the film serves no purpose other than Diaz‘s amazing showcase of acrobatics, sensuality and unexplained perversion.

The film itself is a stylized and beautifully shot piece of work. Sadly, pieces of art share more of an emotional response than this film does. The film is flooding with lost scenes, pathetic foreshadowing and unflinching action/reaction shots.

One of the most noticeable disappointments of The Counselor is its script. Acclaimed author Cormac McCarthy is a recognized and respected writing force. So many of the most striking narrative feature pieces of the last decade, including No Country For Old Men and The Road, have used McCarthy‘s work as source material and enhanced the characters and narrative of McCarthy‘s narrative worlds. In his first venture as feature screenwriter, McCarthy overcompensates with nonsense, directionless and often sleepy dialogue. I’m unsure if McCarthy was pulling inspiration from Shakespeare or Hemingway, but instead of delivering on precise, metaphorically driven, analogical monologues and conversations between characters, McCarthy simply loses his audience and instead allows his talented actors to give long-winded, spoken word lullabies.

Every so often, there comes a movie that really makes me scratch my head and wonder how and why all the talented individuals involved could possibly sign on to a movie like this. The Counselor is well on its way to being one of the worst movies of 2013. Strangled with boredom that even scenes of decapitation couldn’t possibly help make it even a bit interesting, The Counselor is a failed attempt for everyone involved but Diaz. Diaz will surely be remembered for years to come for her scene atop a bright yellow Ferrari, a vacant golf course and a priceless face made by Bardem, who encompasses the feeling of the whole movie, with one facial expression. Disbelief is the best way to describe it, or gynecological, if that even makes sense, because nothing in this film attempts to make sense. This film is in desperate need of some professional help.… Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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1
OrthoSticeNov 15, 2013
If you listen carefully you can almost here the snapping and cracking of the backs of a million Carmac McCarthy and Ridley Scott fans who are bending over backwards to try to rationalize and justify the mess that is the Counselor.

I fallIf you listen carefully you can almost here the snapping and cracking of the backs of a million Carmac McCarthy and Ridley Scott fans who are bending over backwards to try to rationalize and justify the mess that is the Counselor.

I fall into the camp of people that found this to movie to be a monstrosity. The script is indescribably terrible the dialogue is stilted, wordy, pompous, unnatural, shallow, unrealistic and pointless, and it manages to explain too much and explain too little, miraculously, all at the same time. Perhaps with better direction and editing the plot (which is actually fairly simple) would have made a bit more sense but at times you will likely still struggle to follow what's happening because the scenes are put together so poorly and the script introduces new characters at random. This is a movie that gives off the impression, at first glance, of being intelligent. You'll get to hear speeches that draw on the many worlds intepretation of choice and the potential lack thereof, meaningfulness, etc. from unlikely sources. Having majored in philosophy I found them superficial and insulting. If I didn't have a background in philosophy, I would merely have found them preechy and pointless, I'm guessing. The writing was stylistic but yet tried to be conversational and just failed in every way conceivable.

There are a couple decent action sequences and a cool murder scene at the end but the characters are lifeless or caricatures of interesting characters because the writing is laughably abysmal. This movie is a complete and utter failure, and I have a great attention span, have liked movies with little to no plot and was not expecting a suspense filled thriller. This was just a complete turd. I'm guessing what happened is that no one had the courage to tell McCarthy that his script was terrible or someone thought it was deep (even though it isn't) and greenlighted this movie. What a mistake.… Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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1
VD1928Nov 11, 2013
What a waste of perfectly good actors. It had all the potential of being a great movie but feel extremely short. Very confusing and terrible ending of that's what you call the last part of the movie. Waste of my money and time.
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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0
goldendoglvrNov 18, 2013
Absolutely the worst movie I have seen in a very long time. What a shame. Great writer, great actors, but dreadful movie. The story is disjointed with characters that you simply don't care about and can't get invested in. HorribleAbsolutely the worst movie I have seen in a very long time. What a shame. Great writer, great actors, but dreadful movie. The story is disjointed with characters that you simply don't care about and can't get invested in. Horrible editing. I recommend that no-one spends any money or time watching this. I absolutely can't imagine anyone rating this above a "2" maximum, even if you are a Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, or Penalupe Cruz fan. It crossed my mind several times to walk out on this one but stayed to see if somehow it would come together nicely at the end, and well, it didn't.… Expand
4 of 5 users found this helpful41
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1
Kevlar1Nov 16, 2013
Whenever I watch such "movies" I feel ashamed for their "creators". I myself don't even feel insulted by the garbage they threw at me from the screen disdain for moviegoers has become common place nowadays. R.Scott was lucky to make coupleWhenever I watch such "movies" I feel ashamed for their "creators". I myself don't even feel insulted by the garbage they threw at me from the screen disdain for moviegoers has become common place nowadays. R.Scott was lucky to make couple of good movies, since then all he cares about is money. What was he expecting the spectators to say after having watched the film? Amazing interiors", :"fast cheetahs", "Fassbinder licking muffin of Penelope Cruz who complains that it's dirty", "Queer Bardem", Diaz screwing the Ferrari" "Pitt loses his head due to idiotic device"... What a sham! But the worst part is dialogues. A good movie talking should do three things: move forward the plot, explore the characters, elicit some emotions. Here you have long imbecile speeches which try to pretend sexy, philosophic or smart. EVERY single person speaks as if they majored at ancient Greek literature. My god, what happened to good screenwriters? Studios should give the process back to independent producers, otherwise, in 5 years, people will go the cinemas just to eat some popcorn and play bowing.… Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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3
Josh_ManningNov 9, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have no idea what happened here, or really what I watched. I kept waiting for the character interactions to make any sense whatsoever. They never did. The places that hurt the worst were Diaz and Bardem, and for opposite reasons.

Watching Diaz try to deliver that last pseudo monologue in the restaurant was awful. I was on a date and had to work to keep from laughing because I thought it would come across as arrogant. She's just not capable of delivering complex, philosophic dialog in a believable way. Afterward, and I think in the moment too, I kept comparing that scene with the last scene from No Country for Old Men and Tommy Lee Jones' monologue. I think maybe Ridley Scott thought we'd be too busy fixated on a very sexy Diaz to notice the difference in quality.

She played the animal really well. Did we have to have her hump a car though? I mean she lives with leopards and has her own leopard spots. We get it. She's the only thing that can survive in the drug trade--an animal.

But I think what hurt the most was wasting Javier Bardem on an idiot character who 1) consistently and genuinely claims to not know anything of substance while obviously knowing enough to live in the lap of luxury, and 2) spouts McCarthy's (in this film frequently turgid) lines with his trademark talent...which here contrasts so badly with everything else we observe about his character that we reject both the character and the lines as absurd caricatures of McCarthy's writing.

Waste of good film!… Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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1
HeavyLeadOct 26, 2013
Wow, I was surprised at how bad this film was. Coming from such a great director I was more disappointed than when I saw Prometheus. First of all the writing in this movie is god awful. I found myself often questioning what was going throughWow, I was surprised at how bad this film was. Coming from such a great director I was more disappointed than when I saw Prometheus. First of all the writing in this movie is god awful. I found myself often questioning what was going through their minds when they wrote some of these down? Most of the conversations in the movie are cringe worthy and don't advance the plot further. The character development is just as bad as the dialogue. I had no emotion to put in any of the characters, they are all hollow shells that just take up screen space. The plot is sickeningly boring and confusing. It jump cuts around several story lines and doesn't bother to stop and explain them to any degree. They just kind of assume you know whats going on. If there is any positive note to hit its that the cinematography was great. It carries this No Country For Old Men kind of feel that's both visually appealing for the viewer and compliments the mood that the movie sets. Ridley Scott's worst work to date, but the good thing is that his movies can't get much worse than this.… Expand
11 of 15 users found this helpful114
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3
homerbaldmanOct 26, 2013
I can't lie to you about your chances,but anybody who sees this movie has my sympathies. Good dialogue and acting are a must for any successful film,and apparently Ridley Scott thought that they were in such abundance he needed nothing more.I can't lie to you about your chances,but anybody who sees this movie has my sympathies. Good dialogue and acting are a must for any successful film,and apparently Ridley Scott thought that they were in such abundance he needed nothing more. The plot is simple and sophomoric. You keep waiting for the underlying grand design to slowly manifest itself,but when the credits start to roll you see that this is it. By the half-way point,or sooner,you will have figured out who's good,bad,or just stupid. Also,almost every character gets their turn to wax philosophic. Even the owner of a broken down hole in the wall bar shares his lugubrious outlook on life. And lastly,I know movies like to drop in the title of the show periodically if it's appropriate,and counselor is a popular euphemism for attorney, but the word "counselor" is used so often it borders on ludicrous. Some might consider "Someone to Watch Over Me" one of Scott's lesser films,but it's ten times the movie "The Counselor" is.… Expand
11 of 15 users found this helpful114
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1
sandywenkoNov 7, 2013
Boring, confusing, disjointed and downright a mishmosh of jumble mania. The movie did not let me care what happened to any of the characters. The story line was so weak.
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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0
WhitterNov 11, 2013
I think the word to sum up this movie is sick. It adds nothing to the human experience. Brad Pitt et al should be ashamed of themselves. There are not many movies where I would say don't bother to go ...but ..really..don't bother.
5 of 7 users found this helpful52
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0
ACanadianCatOct 29, 2013
Wow that was bad. I do not have any problem with complex plots that leave things out or open for interpretation but this thing has no plot. Or perhaps the right way to say it is the plot is so obscured by speeches and preachy dialogWow that was bad. I do not have any problem with complex plots that leave things out or open for interpretation but this thing has no plot. Or perhaps the right way to say it is the plot is so obscured by speeches and preachy dialog sprinkled with dramatic gore that no one can figure out what the plot is. I still cannot tell who the second guys who stole the truck worked for. Or was it the first guys who stole the truck I could not figure out. And having people who are not what the seem is OK but there has to be some explanation as to how they have access to all this information and resources suddenly. And having multiple characters that are on screen for one scene with no explanation of any kind this is just bad story telling. There is no other way of saying it.

This was one of those movies that at the end I wished I had left the theater when I realized this was going no where. I have to work on that because I could have spent that hour listening to the radio in the parking lot and left the theater happier.… Expand
7 of 10 users found this helpful73
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3
JamesCannonOct 26, 2013
Something tells me that Cormac Mcarthy has some interesting opinions and experiences with women after seeing this film. This is one of the few movies I actually felt bad for the talent involved. The dialogue is just so terrible.Something tells me that Cormac Mcarthy has some interesting opinions and experiences with women after seeing this film. This is one of the few movies I actually felt bad for the talent involved. The dialogue is just so terrible. Particularly every conversation has some awkward self-conscious feel to it or just some random chit chat about women and how men cant understand them. The only scenes that I felt worked were the opening scene in the bedroom and the conversation the counselor has with the main drug boss near the end. Everything else is this dry philosophical edge. When things finally get going a bunch a stuff happens and its really not as compelling as it set up to be. The cameos are terrible too, they have no meaning what so ever. I knew going in it wasnt a well reviewed movie but, I wanted to see it for myself. I was surprised people talked so much in it, cause in Mcarthy's literature he can say a lot without really saying much. This one had me running for the border...i mean the exit.… Expand
7 of 10 users found this helpful73
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1
poetreviewerNov 15, 2013
If you want to see a depressing, over-the-top, grotesquely violent film have yourself a great time. This movie goer is sick of gore for the sheer blech of it. The only intelligent message of the film is obscured and is at best one that I hopeIf you want to see a depressing, over-the-top, grotesquely violent film have yourself a great time. This movie goer is sick of gore for the sheer blech of it. The only intelligent message of the film is obscured and is at best one that I hope isn't true for the sake of mankind. What has happened to our culture and to values? Some of the acting was good. What a waste. And what's with Cormac McCarthy and his twisted mind? What kind of brain thinks of such killing devices as in this film? Yuck.… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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2
PStakhivNov 10, 2013
What a waste of talent! The Counselor joins the club of the garbage movies of 2013! Absolutely the worst Ridley Scott's directing in his career. I give it 2 10 for acting part, every other aspect is a disaster
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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1
rubyjulyNov 19, 2013
Writers should NOT write screen plays! They can't! What a waste of some good actors and my time.
Every actor had a long, long speech on live, love and the reason we are all here. I was embarrassed
for the poor actors.
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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0
trackjay05Feb 14, 2014
Brad Pitt should think twice before he lets people put his name on idiotic films like this just to attract movie goers. Speechless ! I could not bring myself to watch the movie past the 15 minute mark. It looks like the producers made theirBrad Pitt should think twice before he lets people put his name on idiotic films like this just to attract movie goers. Speechless ! I could not bring myself to watch the movie past the 15 minute mark. It looks like the producers made their initial investment back and came few bucks on top thanks to Brad and that's all that matters, I guess. I am sure there are some idiots out there who will give it a four or five stars and call it an "art", but believe me there is NOTHING artistic about this piece of crap. Poor acting and vulgar opening scene does not qualify as art. I understand there is a scene with Cameron Diaz rubbing her kooch against the Ferrari !? This is why you gave it four or five stars, you moron(s) ? Go rent a porn ! I, also, read that director's brother jumped of the bridge. Now I know why.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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3
dodds44Nov 25, 2013
Awful, boring, dry, vague, obvious. These are the words I use to describe this wasted opportunity. This film just begs to ask the question. Where did they go wrong. They had a great cast with a great director. Ridley Scott has unfortunatelyAwful, boring, dry, vague, obvious. These are the words I use to describe this wasted opportunity. This film just begs to ask the question. Where did they go wrong. They had a great cast with a great director. Ridley Scott has unfortunately lost it in his years lately, with duds like Prometheus and Robin Hood. This was the last nail in the coffin for me. Ridley Scott has not made a good movie in a very long time and it makes me really sad how he was given a script by such a great writer, a fantastic cast and came up with this. The film just feels like a wasted opportunity on his part. He had so much talent but he lazily forgot that he had to work in order to make it good.… Expand
2 of 6 users found this helpful24
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0
ThomasSmithsonJul 20, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have a test for any and all art forms, if you can make fun of it, there's a problem with it, this abominable waste of celluloid did not even qualify or register.
The so called A-list cast epitomized contract/paycheck players-Cameron Diaz in the end outwits all...I rest my case.

Scott's Blade Runner was my awakening into how much can be conveyed through a film's actor's, sound design, special effects, dialogue, lighting and soundtrack, Scott created a dark dystopian future where the humans/replicants were worth saving, loving, fighting-dying for, even the diabolical Roy Batty made us see, made us feel, empathize with his perspective, his love, his short life.

In closing, our ancestors scratched more movement and moment and feeling and purpose on cave walls, mister Scott, hang up the lens, play shuffleboard, do something, but please, please don't make another, whatever The Counselor was ....and anyone who can steer past my review and give The Counselor a chance, save your large popcorn container and stow it under your seat for future use as a vomit pail.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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0
MetaVinceFeb 24, 2017
I'm the first person to review this movie in 2017! I hope I'm the last! Can't tell you what it's about, stopped movie about 30 minutes in. Slow, disjointed, made no sense. Ridley, you're better than this. How much did the producers pay forI'm the first person to review this movie in 2017! I hope I'm the last! Can't tell you what it's about, stopped movie about 30 minutes in. Slow, disjointed, made no sense. Ridley, you're better than this. How much did the producers pay for all thee great actors? Fortunately I paid only $1.99....… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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dierregiNov 30, 2014
The movie opens with a sex scene which is simultaneously excessive and boring. The Cruz character, named Laura, asks to be pleasured “down there” and the Fassbinder character, the nameless Counselor, obviously obliges.

Follows a series ofThe movie opens with a sex scene which is simultaneously excessive and boring. The Cruz character, named Laura, asks to be pleasured “down there” and the Fassbinder character, the nameless Counselor, obviously obliges.

Follows a series of disjointed and disconnected scenes, to introduce the other main players: Reiner, a Mexican drug trafficker with a bad haircut; Malkina, a “femme fatale” with a weird name and attitude and Westray, a guy who knows other guys.

All these people are played by top of the crop actors, directed by Ridley Scott, with a screen play by Cormac MCCarthy and yet the final result is an overlong, bloated, boring movie.

The plot involves a vague, messy drug deal and an even vaguer involvement of the Counselor. As everybody who watched Breaking Bad knows, Mexican drug lords get very upset when somebody messes with their drugs, so rightful revenge ensues.

Unfortunately, in this case the revenge is not fair and the Mexican guys should know. In one of many weird scenes, we see a main player spying a conversation between the Counselor and Reiner, during which it is spelled out that the Counselor is innocent. And yet the ax will fall on him and on his beloved Laura.

The violence is disturbing but predictable. When Reiner and the Counselor coolly discus about decapitation devices, you can be sure that someone will be decapitated before the end credits. The same when they talk about snuff movies…

Cameron Diaz playing femme fatale Malkina is especially disturbing. Sporting appropriate sprayed-on clothes and super high-heels, with huge sculpted cheekbones, she is supposed to convey fear and mystery. But I just found her cheekbones too distracting.… Expand
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1
swimjayDec 30, 2021
A truly toxic film. Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy bring out the worst in each other.
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3
FilmClubMar 27, 2016
Michael Fassbender and Penelope Cruz lead an all-star cast for Cormac McCarthy's screenwriting debut.

Despite its scaldingly hot cast and formidable writer/director combination, The Counselor is simply not a very likable or gratifyingMichael Fassbender and Penelope Cruz lead an all-star cast for Cormac McCarthy's screenwriting debut.

Despite 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. Set mostly within a certain elite, mostly American adjunct to the corrosive Mexican drug trade, Cormac McCarthy's first original screenplay features some trademark bizarre violence and puts some elevated and eloquent words into the mouths of some deeply disreputable figures. The main characters may be twisted but they're not very interesting and, crucially, you can guess, as well as dread, what's coming from very early on. The stars, exotic sex and creative violence will draw an audience looking for classy cheap thrills, but widespread disappointment will yield less impressive box-office numbers than such an illustrious package would ideally generate, at least domestically.

A pretty tasty talk-and-sex scene played by Michael Fassbender and Penelope Cruz within a cocoon of white sheets gets things off to a good start, but there's not much more where that came from in this sordid cautionary tale that warns that this is no country even for beautiful people. It's the sort of queasy yarn in which you just know that the love-struck exchange between Fassbender's Counselor and his beautiful sweetheart -- "I want to love you until I die." "Me first." -- will be turned from a beautiful sentiment into a doom-laden prediction with a short deadline.

Unlike No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers McCarthy adaptation that hit the cinematic jackpot artistically and commercially, there are no cops or otherwise ordinary folks at the center of things here (except perhaps for Cruz's Laura, who is not much seen). Instead, there's a bunch of wealthy weirdos, bright and colorful people who either never had or subsequently discarded the morality gene. Like the pet cheetahs so admired by Cameron Diaz's elaborate and depraved Malkina, who has tattooed her body with leopard-like spots, these people live to hunt and hunt to kill.

The Counselor, who goes by no other name, has clearly done very well over the years with his client Reiner (Javier Bardem), a spiky-haired, big-spirited soul who enjoys a lavishly vulgar lifestyle with Malkina, who sports a ring as big as a grapefruit and lives to push the sexual envelope. Her idea of a good time is to go to confession, even though she isn't Catholic, just to outrage the priest with details of her wild activities, which might include an interlude we see of her doing the splits and gyrating on the windshield of Reiner's Bentley while he watches from the seat; she's disappointed when he doesn't get turned on, as he deems the display "too gynecological to be sexy."

The Counselor drives a Bentley too (in fact, the film is embarrassingly overloaded with high-end product placement) and he travels to Amsterdam just to buy Laura an expensive diamond ring, so he's obviously doing just fine. However, despite an explicit warning about the risks from Reiner, the Counselor wants in on a very large upcoming drug deal, probably imagining that he'll retire from the game with Laura thereafter.

Early on, Reiner asks the Counselor if he knows what a bolito is, then describes it as a wind-up wire device that's extremely effective at slicing people's necks. You just know you're going to see this thing in action before it's all over, and it's not the only wire-as-weapon McCarthy and Scott fetishistically employ in the numerous violent passages, so much so that there's actually a character named Wireman.

Also involved as some sort of middleman in the big deal going down is Westray (Brad Pitt), who even more explicitly than Reiner advises the Counselor not to get involved. Inadvertently, however, he gets sucked in when he does a favor on the outside for a hard-bitten prisoner (Rosie Perez, very good). Just when it wasn't certain that McCarthy's vision of the world could get much darker, here he explicitly imperils his hero-by-default via the positive action of doing a good deed. Although this is not a mystery story per se, in the end it really becomes an issue of who's going to be the last one standing.

The trouble is, it's no fun -- not even dirty, sordid, delicious fun. This being a Ridley Scott film, the images are always fabulous to behold , but here they are employed mainly to show off the lifestyle -- locations, vehicles, clothes, jewelry, makeup, haircuts; it's a like two-hour commercial for a no-limit credit card.

As far as dazzling villains are concerned, the third time is not the charm for Bardem, after his unforgettable turns in No Country for Old Men and Skyfall.

What one is left with is a very bleak ending and an only slightly less depressing sense of the waste of a lot of fine talent both behind and in front of the camera.

A beautiful bummer.… Expand
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2
amheretojudgeMay 2, 2018
the truth has no temperature..

The Counselor The scrutiny isn't as convoluted or deep as the writers think which just reults into series of disappointment as the audience finds themselves mocking over the hyped or exaggerated version ofthe truth has no temperature..

The Counselor

The scrutiny isn't as convoluted or deep as the writers think which just reults into series of disappointment as the audience finds themselves mocking over the hyped or exaggerated version of what the makers think is a game changer. Cormac McCarthy; the writer, has written some moving and effective dialogues or conversations which is unfortunately piled upon by this over thought out plot and undercooked characters. Ridley Scott is not in his A game and shatters expectations by not delivering a single lose thread to hold onto. Michael Fassbender is brilliant in his portrayal but unfortunately isn't supported by any of the cast members despite of having such a great talent like Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Brad Pitt. The Counselor is a feature gone wrong in every possible way that it sometimes is exhaustingly annoying to watch it work so hard on so little for more than 2 hours that may feel like decades.… Expand
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2
YorgsApr 25, 2018
One of the worst movies I've seen.
Confusing plot, undeveloped characters, what a piece of ****
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