Read Positive User Reviews for The Counselor

10

RekkrOct 25, 2013

In my ever-humble opinion, this is a saddening example of metacritic's inevitable deception. Many will see the generally unfavorable reception towards this film and write it off without the blink of an eye.

Now I am in no way saying thatIn my ever-humble opinion, this is a saddening example of metacritic's inevitable deception. Many will see the generally unfavorable reception towards this film and write it off without the blink of an eye.

Now I am in no way saying that my opinion is absolute (it so clearly is not), and I would also like to point out that I do not throw around 10-ratings lightly.
This film is, without a doubt, one of the most brilliant films I have seen in years.
Ridley Scott is an artist with a 'true vision', and I will not argue that it requires one to be on a certain wavelength in order to perceive this vision (I do not mean to sound pretentious).
Every inch of Cormac McCarthy's dialogue is profoundly thought-provoking and unknowingly exposing,
and the performances are brilliant to the point of the cast's A-list status coming off as a mere coincidental detail. Fassbender, Pitt, Diaz, Bardem, and Cruz all exhibit the same fearless resolve as Scott on the other side of the lense.
Despite common criticism of the film's 'lack of cohesion' or 'identity confusion', I assert that this film's self-identity is actually stronger than most. Those who cannot recognize this cannot see the forest for the trees. Those who are not familiar with a more 'Art-house' approach to film-making/story-telling will most likely end up alienated. This movie makes no attempt to ease viewers into its twisted and bizarrely real world, and that is ENTIRELY intentional.

Again, I do not mean to sound aggressive towards those many who dislike this film.
I simply wanted to present my personal appreciation for this film which I consider monumental, and for those intrigued but disenchanted by the negative reception to persevere until they can form their own opinion.… Expand

24 of 38 users found this helpful2414

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8

orkcaitlinNov 23, 2015

Wow! What a movie! Michael Fassbender, Goran Visnjic, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem John Leguizamo (and other female characters that I am not mentioning on purpose)... these are all fine actors and they each have different acting styles on theirWow! What a movie! Michael Fassbender, Goran Visnjic, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem John Leguizamo (and other female characters that I am not mentioning on purpose)... these are all fine actors and they each have different acting styles on their own (if it can be said like this). What I am trying to say here is that if you have one of these male actors, you will try to get the best out of them, but if you have all of them things are little complicated. I expected much more from this stellar acting crew, I expected it to be something like Oceans Eleven. Instead I watched something that was good, with a blurred story line and and an everyday performance from some of these actors. Not disappointed, but expected way more.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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10

coolhand62Nov 13, 2013

I can quite understand why some will not take favor with The Counselor; one's who can only see what's put right in front of them. The mystical Cormac McCarthy presents some pieces and expects, demands his audience to pay close attention andI can quite understand why some will not take favor with The Counselor; one's who can only see what's put right in front of them. The mystical Cormac McCarthy presents some pieces and expects, demands his audience to pay close attention and then decide exactly what happened. Just like most of his characters we are only shown so much, but certainly enough to know up from down and right from wrong. A great thought provoking film, which I admit is one of my favorite types of films. I hate leaving a cinema knowing all I will ever know about a film. It's a shame great films like this, one's that leap far away from the mundane can only be appreciated by some while others expect the mundane and are thus disappointed by an 'outside the box' presentation. Outside the box is what you should crave!!

The Counselor is sharp, stylish cinema that cuts out all the crap and delivers only what it needs to & the rest is up to you.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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10

nevadastarrOct 27, 2013

I’ve seldom seen published reviews of a film that have so misunderstood a film. Banging on THE COUNSELOR as a failed thriller is like disparaging a hat for not being a shoe.

THE COUNSELOR announces what it is, early on andI’ve seldom seen published reviews of a film that have so misunderstood a film. Banging on THE COUNSELOR as a failed thriller is like disparaging a hat for not being a shoe.

THE COUNSELOR announces what it is, early on and self-referentially not a thriller but a moral fable, a cautionary tale and then proceeds to deliver just that, impeccably. No hair-raising car chases, no miraculous escapes, no ingenious last-minute victory for the hero, and thank god for it.

Austere in its point of view, anti-naturalistic by design, and florid in its dazzlingly tawdry material surfaces, this story moves toward its inevitable outcome without missing a beat. In essence, it says don’t trifle with evil, guy…don’t even. Because evil will answer your invitation, will visit its tragic dance upon you. Here, watch it destroy you in a cold torrent of pain.

Scott and McCarthy deliver this excellent work on their own terms and within their own parameters, no hedging, no apologies. The plot is always two steps ahead of the audience, so pay attention please. The dialogue, which has elsewhere been quoted with jeers, actually plays magnificently. Along the way are some amazing performances, Fassbender as, fundamentally, an innocent looking for a fast, casual score, Diaz as a devastated soul, Pitt as a candidly self-aware crook. And of course the ever inventive and brilliant Javier Bardem as the sybaritic ‘mastermind’ with a stripe of stupid running through him.

If you merely want someone to root for, go to a ball game. If you want fast food, look elsewhere. Scott and McCarthy serve up a coherent fictional world to which the viewer must simply surrender. This film will last and be revisited again and again, long after other routine thriller fare has been lost and forgotten in the streaming video graveyards.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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10

tiaminetaFeb 8, 2014

After you wach this movie you can feel a hole into your stomach.This is not a movie is a greek tragedy. a very sad poem converted into a movie.The traffic of narchotics is just a background. it could be any other one.Is not a matter of goodAfter you wach this movie you can feel a hole into your stomach.This is not a movie is a greek tragedy. a very sad poem converted into a movie.The traffic of narchotics is just a background. it could be any other one.Is not a matter of good and bad like a police movie.is a matter of destiny.You have to read Faulkner or melville or kafka to understand and feel and touch the greatness of some tragedies.We put together two genius like ridley Scott and Cormac Maccarthy and the result is this shakesperian tragedy.
No matter the jumps or interruptions of the plot they are intentional to make your brain start to work.
There is a sense of emptiness and loneliness that you can almost touch with your fingertips.
The mesage is that we are puppets in the hands of a higher destiny.Its like the ancient greek tragedies where the humans are mere instruments in the hands of the gods.The druglords take the place of ancient gods.they are unreachable and nobody can discuss their decissions.Nobody can see them
but you know they have eyes and slaves everywhere.
This is not a movie about drug traficking is about destiny,about human weaknesses and the evil they can bring into everybodys lives.
In short its not a movie for everybody but is great very great........... and also very devastating.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

aimeeebronNov 25, 2015

All I want to say is that the movie was confusing at many moments, but it is still a great movie. Trying not to implicate something that will cause a spoiler effect, but all the actors played their roles perfectly.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

MarechaleOct 27, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Counselor is one of the best films I have seen in years--mesmerizing, ethereal, even captivating in spite of the theme. Critics expecting, or insisting on, an action-adventure genre picture where everything is neatly solved at the end were disappointed, and responded hyperbolically. The film will fail at the box office in this country, but it doesn't fail as a film. Here are a few random thoughts, in no particular order:
First, the Counselor himself is not an innocent, naive, or likable figure (except in his relationship with Laura). He is from the beginning a morally compromised player--as we can see in his arrogance, in his dealings with women, with Reiner, and with the mysterious figure who gets him to El Jefe, and even in his odd question to Westray about whether he has slept with Malkina. Now that everything in his life seems perfect, he is driven to destroy it, piling on debts that put his "back against the wall" and "force" him to get involved with the drug deal. In reality he is driven to annihilation by something inside him. (I thought of Freud, Civilization and its Discontents).
Second, we know very little about the drug deal and how it falls apart, and that little we do know is given to us in bits and pieces. We are exactly in the place of the protagonist, who also is surrounded by a menace he does not fully understand. It is a very uncomfortable place. In the end there is nothing he can do, except aimlessly travel and plead. By the time he realizes he is in trouble, it is already too late. The idea that human individual action may be useless is one that is hard to accept. We want to see the hero solve things, and we aren't going to get that here.
Third, the dialogue is gorgeous and endlessly quotable, just as the film itself is beautifully shot, edited, visualized.
Fourth, the sequence that ends the life of Westray is one of the most chilling horror scenes I have ever watched. It is described for us early on; we feel the suspense as Westray is followed, and then we are left to watch as the horrific scene, whose ending we already know, plays out.
Fifth, and finally, the performances are first rate. Pitt, Bardem, Cruz, Diaz, Blades, Perez, Leguizamo, and others are at the top of their form. Fassbender in particular is a stand-out for his ability to create a character from a sparsely written role. The best scene, in retrospect, is his phone conversation with El Jefe, photographed through his dirty windshield. El Jefe gently but ruthlessly tells him that it is over and there is nothing for him to do. Fassbender's pleas--"Maybe we could meet someplace"; "Can you help me?" are, like all of his dialogue, almost banal (in contrast to the glorious words of the rest) but he is able to use that contrast to create an unforgettable character. We don't know what happens to him at the end. It would almost be too much to bear.
I'm sorry that this film is not doing well at the box office in the US. My only consolation is that this film--like Vertigo, Touch of Evil (which it resembles in some ways), or Blade Runner itself--will get its reevaluation, and be seen as the classic that it is.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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10

ThegodfathersonOct 25, 2013

The Counselor will leave many mystified even those who enjoy it. The story envelops rather than unspools, a guttural experience. As Scott stages the confined action, bouncing from location to location like a Pinter play's moving sets, theThe Counselor will leave many mystified even those who enjoy it. The story envelops rather than unspools, a guttural experience. As Scott stages the confined action, bouncing from location to location like a Pinter play's moving sets, the musical score pulsates with dread. In one scene, a nameless assailant strings a steel wire across a desert road, intending to slice a speeding biker who will eventually appear. That's the movie in one note: taught, prophetic, and hushed. We don't have our finger on why this is happening, but we can feel what's coming. We know it's grisly. We can't look away.… Expand

7 of 17 users found this helpful710

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10

z0rzzzOct 25, 2013

A MUST SEE MOVIE. you will probably leave stunned at what you have just seen as you still be taking it all in. this is not only a well directed movie, but also a set of very phenomenal philosophical ideas and points of view. the cast isA MUST SEE MOVIE. you will probably leave stunned at what you have just seen as you still be taking it all in. this is not only a well directed movie, but also a set of very phenomenal philosophical ideas and points of view. the cast is filled with great stars (as you already know) and bad ass attire that is just enviable. this is not your ordinary walk in the park action movie or movie in general. this is a real work of art that will make you cringe, ponder, and want to become a director or a writer. simply said if you are not a drone like individual and gravitate more towards intellectual and unique movies/stories this movie is for you.… Expand

5 of 15 users found this helpful510

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10

BozzyOct 25, 2013

Great acting done with great writing. You can't make violence look beautiful but the hints and metaphors given by the actors is great and non-stop. If you don't like acting by great actors than stick to DWTS, SNOOKI, THE KARDASHIANS and allGreat acting done with great writing. You can't make violence look beautiful but the hints and metaphors given by the actors is great and non-stop. If you don't like acting by great actors than stick to DWTS, SNOOKI, THE KARDASHIANS and all the other "reality' crud. You want great acting that will take you to a reality that the actors expose you to then see The Counselor. As for the negativity by some critics just remember their names so you can mark them off your list of those to heed.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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8

LamontRaymondOct 27, 2013

A highly original and fun movie, that fits in nicely in the post-"Bridge" environment. The over-the-top sex sequences and murder sequences are well-done. Not as gratuitous as many have claimed. Brad Pitt is terrific in a small role.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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10

ciandonovanOct 26, 2013

Great movie and well-acted! It's mind-boggling how some could say that it is crap. Compared to other movies which were rated high or higher, The Counselor has more depth. But, it'snot a feel good or happy ending movie because it projects reality.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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8

blackmambasNov 26, 2013

Challenging. Tests your patience. Not a film that wants to be liked. Not a thriller in a traditional sense, though the trailer would like you to think so, and definitely not for everyone you'll either love it or loathe it. Scenes are veryChallenging. Tests your patience. Not a film that wants to be liked. Not a thriller in a traditional sense, though the trailer would like you to think so, and definitely not for everyone you'll either love it or loathe it. Scenes are very much hit or miss, long, and at times preachy. Humour is pitch black. Once you come to terms with the fact that plot points aren't the focus of the film (they are deliberately obscured) and allow yourself to take in the larger-than-life characters and bravura performances (especially the the admirably bold one from Cameron Diaz), the film becomes a far more enjoyable experience.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

rodriqueOct 25, 2013

Ridley Scott is my favorite director and my inspiration to become a filmaker.The Counselor is a dark and vioelent movie that is mostly an unforgettable experience

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

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10

ignivomeOct 28, 2013

What a sexist movie!!!! and what a waste of good actors! IMHO Ridley Scott really missed this one and it doesnt worth spending your money for it. Those who give a 10 to this movie must be the type of guy who also say "Make me a sandwich".

1 of 11 users found this helpful110

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7

jeremypNov 1, 2013

Entering the Cormac McCarthy world is not dissimilar to entering Dante's Inferno as painted by Breughel, or Dali. The best way to view it is to sit back and watch the evil as it is displayed while listening to the morality tale as it unfoldsEntering the Cormac McCarthy world is not dissimilar to entering Dante's Inferno as painted by Breughel, or Dali. The best way to view it is to sit back and watch the evil as it is displayed while listening to the morality tale as it unfolds from the chorus of actors who put McCarthy's words to life. This one is about the long and unerring reach of a Mexican cartel who, if we believe the movie, have eyes and ears better than the NSA, and a brutality that exceeds the Taliban. Fans of McCarthy know that the violence is as inevitable as it is preposterously excessive. This time he sends us a telegram in the early going about just how it will occur. and then it's just up to the viewer to decide whether the message was worth delivering. For me it wasn't. The endless philosophizing about death, evil, and the inevitability of justice "Cartel style" wasn't just depressing but boring. Oh it's stylish enough and Ridley Scott has a great visual bag of tricks, but it's choice of looking at evil with sophistication simply shows it's banality, and that wasn't the point of the movie. Cormac over reached and it shows in the lack of dread as the action unfolds, and dread is usually McCarthy's forte.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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9

thomaslambFeb 9, 2014

What a divider! I loved this movie. I think a lot of people `casually` watch films without paying attention and this one deserves it. I write very few reviews but wanted to affect the scoring balance as I nearly didn`t watch this due to poorWhat a divider! I loved this movie. I think a lot of people `casually` watch films without paying attention and this one deserves it. I write very few reviews but wanted to affect the scoring balance as I nearly didn`t watch this due to poor reviews. I give it 85/100 but it needs rounding up, so be it.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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8

aeroplasmaDec 4, 2013

Don't watch this film expecting gratuitous violence because you will be disappointed. It is a thought provoking piece of art. The dialogue is amazing, so much so, that one would be able to write an essay on some of the philosophical ideasDon't watch this film expecting gratuitous violence because you will be disappointed. It is a thought provoking piece of art. The dialogue is amazing, so much so, that one would be able to write an essay on some of the philosophical ideas presented. It was a great experience and definitely a film you may want to experience twice. Although the acting was also top notch, there were some pretty gritty sex scenes that may have been a tad unnecessary (car). The story progressed slowly but it never felt long by any means. A+… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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8

SpangleDec 21, 2016

The Counselor is a verbose, overstuffed, yet disastrously terrific work from Ridley Scott. Densely written by Cormac McCarthy, The Counselor shows that McCarthy was not willing to compromise his style in translating it to the screen. With SATThe Counselor is a verbose, overstuffed, yet disastrously terrific work from Ridley Scott. Densely written by Cormac McCarthy, The Counselor shows that McCarthy was not willing to compromise his style in translating it to the screen. With SAT words aplenty, McCarthy's script is alien with characters forced to say lines that no human being in these situations would ever dream of actually speaking. However, in doing so, McCarthy sets up The Counselor to be a film that is not some crime drama, but instead a poetic and mythical film that hardly bears any resemblance to reality. That said, this language - as it is in his novels - is beautiful to hear. Though it is this language that undeniably contributes to the film's divisiveness, it is also its problems with apparent filler and its incoherent narrative. What is not for debate, however, is the brilliance of the acting. They take this messy material and turn it into a chaotically beautiful work that, though flawed, will likely become a favorite of cinephiles for years to come for the very flaws that it has.

The Counselor's message is clear and brought forth by Cameron Diaz at the very end. Those who are cowards will be eaten by the predators in this world. In the world created by Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy, the predators are the cartel. Brutal and unrelenting, they kill with an odd sort of beauty that turns murder and maiming into a sort of art. It is with this in mind that the film approaches its subjects. Led by the Counselor (Michael Fassbender), a smart and capable lawyer distracted by greed to become richer, he is undoubtedly a coward. He may pretend to be ready to help run drugs into the country with the help of Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Westray (Brad Pitt), but he is not. He is more content with living and loving his fiancee Laura (Penelope Cruz). However, he enters the game anyways and quickly gets bitten by his cowardice. Afraid and unaware of his situation, the Counselor is effectively a jackrabbit that does not know a cheetah is creeping up behind it ever so slowly. Instead, he is forced to live in agony as he waits for what is around the corner. By the time he figures out death is approaching him, it has become an inevitability. Fassbender plays this deer in the headlights type of role incredibly well, as always, but his terrific performance is certainly matched by Bardem. Extravagant and certainly an odd guy, Bardem plays the role perfectly for the character.

The film is stolen, however, by the performance of Cameron Diaz. A career-best performance, her cold and calculating Malkina is the predator. The lover of Reiner, who owns two cheetahs, Malkina herself has a cheetah spotting tattoo that runs down the length of her body. Intensely sexual, Malkina herself links sensuality with the beauty of a predator stalking its prey and she herself defines this characteristic. Her sexual behavior is animalistic and unhinged, designed to scare the cowardice out of her mates. When stalking her prey, she is efficient and smart. While the cartels loom, Malkina is unafraid and hell-bent on securing her own desires. In this role, Diaz is oddly intimidating. She plays the role of the sexed up villain incredibly well with an ability to make any situation uncomfortable for those around her.

Yet, the film is flawed. With scenes one could chalk up as filler, such as those with John Leguizamo and Dean Norris, as well as one where Cameron Diaz goes to church, The Counselor is certainly not tight. It is often unfocused and diverting. A slow-burn, The Counselor pays off those willing to wait for it to find itself, but for those unwilling, The Counselor will be a major turn off. However, there is beauty in these flaws. Where the film bloats, it allows for characters to become more developed. Where the film is slow and meandering, it is an excuse for McCarthy to pen gorgeous dialogue as only he can and is an excuse to spend more time in this world. Here, the film truly becomes a diamond, which is a major element of the film. As told to the Counselor (Fassbender's character) by a Dutch diamond dealer (Bruno Ganz), the more flawed diamonds have a far higher value due to those flaws and imperfections. This is the case for the film itself as its flaws make oddly make it more beautiful than it could be if it were perfect. What certainly does not hurt this beauty either is the cinematography. Capitalizing on the beautiful people, set designs, and the spacious desert, The Counselor is an absolutely beautiful film to look at all times and is visually engrossing in this regard.

A slow burn thriller, The Counselor is a convoluted and confusing film, but at its very core, it is simply a film about hunters closing in on its prey. What makes it a very good film, however, is McCarthy's script. Here, McCarthy finds poetry in the chaos on screen and brings out the beauty and artistry of the hunt. As with the hunt, the film is intensely beautiful and sexual, with McCarthy… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

Brutus54Oct 28, 2013

Lots of brilliant bits, fabulous cast, nicely directed, but ultimately, just nasty people being nasty to each other. No Country for Old Men, but with even less humour and warmth, if that is possible. Just another Cormac McCarthy monotone. AndLots of brilliant bits, fabulous cast, nicely directed, but ultimately, just nasty people being nasty to each other. No Country for Old Men, but with even less humour and warmth, if that is possible. Just another Cormac McCarthy monotone. And why are drug dealers and sophisticated criminals now automatically all-seeing, all-knowing, and somehow seamlessly on top of every technical system in existence? The awesomeness and awfulness of the revenge exacted (sort of the point of this movie) is a little bit muted when you realise that no matter what you do, you cannot hide. The resolution gets a bit boring, in fact. Great performance by Javier Bardem. Fassbender and Diaz overact a bit. The movie gets an extra point for snappy dialogue, but loses it again for Fassbender's excessive trauma over how awful his lot is. But overall, adult entertainment.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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8

captscurvyNov 1, 2013

most critics these days are, unfortunately shills or pedant arses. to appreciate this strange, dark and beautiful film on its own terms on the big screen is incredibly rewarding. For the viewer in need of a challenge, an abstraction ofmost critics these days are, unfortunately shills or pedant arses. to appreciate this strange, dark and beautiful film on its own terms on the big screen is incredibly rewarding. For the viewer in need of a challenge, an abstraction of language, of poetry, beauty humor and savagery, toward death --an (un)real) moment written by its ending a human milieu on the edge of nihilism a film about what it lacks -mercy. unforgettable… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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10

Danielito09Nov 11, 2013

Like a McCarthy novel, one time through isn't enough to really see what's going on. I liked the film and unlike much of the criticism, didn't find it boring or confusing. There's ambiguity and narrative gaps, but McCarthy does that and I'mLike a McCarthy novel, one time through isn't enough to really see what's going on. I liked the film and unlike much of the criticism, didn't find it boring or confusing. There's ambiguity and narrative gaps, but McCarthy does that and I'm willing to bet there's a good reason for it. I'm not spoiling anything, but this is what I understood about the film..

Unspeakable evil exists in men. Don't get close to it, or it will get you. God, if He exists, doesn't care. The choices you make create your reality. As it was stated in No Country, "you can't stop what's coming.'" It feels bleak, but fully accepting the reality, as only one character in this movie does, can be liberating. You can't count on justice. You have to make your own.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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9

youropinionmanNov 14, 2013

This is an excellent film. Were it not for the mistake of miscasting Cameron Diaz, it would be a masterpiece. Even as is, it's not far off. The main criticism I've heard is that the plot is "incoherent" or "difficult to follow". All I can doThis is an excellent film. Were it not for the mistake of miscasting Cameron Diaz, it would be a masterpiece. Even as is, it's not far off. The main criticism I've heard is that the plot is "incoherent" or "difficult to follow". All I can do in response is quote the film's existential center, Westray: "Are you a mental defective?" I'm not usually a fan of intellectual elitism, but I must say this film is perfectly coherent and the plot is brilliantly apparent to anyone with a fully-functioning frontal lobe. No, the script does not spoon feed the audience, but that only makes the film even more entertaining. As I mentioned before, the film's only flaw is that Cameron Diaz is attempting to play an evil genius. She is completely wrong for the role. I haven't seen her in a ton of films, so I don't know if she has any acting talent in any "type" of role, but I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she's very gifted at portraying "bubbly" characters who are sexually effervescent in a very playful way. This role is not in her wheelhouse. When she stumbles over Cormac McCarthy's ingenious existential monologues one can only cringe and lament that the film did not stick the landing because of this one glaring flaw. Her character is self-parodic because she does not have the talent to make these brilliant soliloquies seem believable. Frankly Diaz makes Malkina seem like a ditz, especially in the final monologue which with another actress, Charlize Theron maybe, would have been a home run. This film is the best argument against the drug war that I've ever seen, and the dialogue is the best I've ever heard in any movie, period. Except when it's clumsily spit out of Cameron Diaz's mouth. The material was over her head. The other actors, Brad Pitt especially, take the excellent dialogue and run with it.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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7

Sierrasteve1Nov 6, 2013

With a great director and cast, I had to see this movie even though the reviews were so bad. Not like many movies out there, and despite reviews, I could follow the plot the entire time. Good acting and plot development. I was entertainedWith a great director and cast, I had to see this movie even though the reviews were so bad. Not like many movies out there, and despite reviews, I could follow the plot the entire time. Good acting and plot development. I was entertained the whole time.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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7

JC86Dec 5, 2013

This film has a few pretty great aspects: casting, writing, and tone. I didn't know what to expect from this film I kind of thought No Country meets Miami Vice (thanks to the look of Bardem's character) but I was way off. This movie is a lotThis film has a few pretty great aspects: casting, writing, and tone. I didn't know what to expect from this film I kind of thought No Country meets Miami Vice (thanks to the look of Bardem's character) but I was way off. This movie is a lot more like Killing Them Softly than Scarface. Bardem stole the show for me and it was a very interesting role for Cameron Diaz. I think this one's worth a shot but I can see why it missed for some.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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9

BruuzMar 1, 2014

Just saw it for a second time.
I'm a lot more appreciative of the movie in this second viewing.
The production design is simply awesome. It also completely revisited my view of Malkina, who I now believe is not a mastermind. In fact, IJust saw it for a second time.
I'm a lot more appreciative of the movie in this second viewing.
The production design is simply awesome.

It also completely revisited my view of Malkina, who I now believe is not a mastermind. In fact, I believe she identifies more with the jackrabbit, but has a fascination with the cheetah (represented by the cartel). Greed being the ultimate motivator. Revisit her lines, in the enddialogue, or her last conversation with Reiner. Imo, she's not the malign mastermind I also took her for after the first viewing, her character is more complex, a lot more human (as she explains what humans are in the end).

The first time through, the philosophical dialogue doesn't give you enough time to digest it. So, unfortunately, it comes over as blasé mumbojumbo. The good news is that once you get a grasp on it in subsequent viewings, it starts to make sense and you can relate to it through the imagery.
This is a movie with some consistence, where the simple dialogue lines hide a lot of information.

I'm not going to pretend that everything in this movie works, but it's an effort I can really appreciate, an attempt at something a little different than the fast-food movies we're consuming all too often.… Expand

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10

TheTragicTruthFeb 9, 2014

From start to finish, it is perfectly acted, with philosophical depth that only few may understand let alone truly appreciate.

The generally negative reviews illuminate only that the mass public and supposed 'professional' critics areFrom start to finish, it is perfectly acted, with philosophical depth that only few may understand let alone truly appreciate.

The generally negative reviews illuminate only that the mass public and supposed 'professional' critics are blind to brilliant film making and flawless cinematic execution with this sort of power and magnitude. There are few films that will submerge you into a world this dark and thought provoking.

'This film is without a doubt, one of the most brilliant films I've seen in years'… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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8

SharkfartsAug 1, 2014

I found the first half of this movie a struggle to watch and had to stop. I finished it today and felt somewhat redeemed. The second half delivers a bit more payoff, but don't consider this an action movie, because it isn't. It's arthouse,I found the first half of this movie a struggle to watch and had to stop. I finished it today and felt somewhat redeemed. The second half delivers a bit more payoff, but don't consider this an action movie, because it isn't. It's arthouse, it's well done, the actors perform to perfection, the plot is airtight and the writing is brilliant. That said, I didn't exactly enjoy watching it. It is a tragedy with no uplifting moments. That doesn't make it a bad movie, but I was left wondering what, exactly, DID I get out of watching it? It's filled with elite philosophy, elite in the sense that it doesn't apply or even make sense for most people to think along these lines. There was one speech I really appreciated. Maybe everyone will find something to connect with. At any rate, this movie is high quality but whether you'll enjoy it or not is a matter of taste and expectation.… Expand

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8

rtfyOct 21, 2015

The Counsellor is not perfect, but the virtues in my view outweigh the flaws, one of the latter being the one too many lyrical speeches on what amounts to the ethics and exercise of choice. It's not the substance of the speeches that pallsThe Counsellor is not perfect, but the virtues in my view outweigh the flaws, one of the latter being the one too many lyrical speeches on what amounts to the ethics and exercise of choice. It's not the substance of the speeches that palls but their smugness and their length. The musings of one too many cameo characters on the consequences of a choice to seek profit in crime are become much more gratuitous than the highly effective, vividly explicit, and not powerfully concise scenes of violence.

The problem addressed in the script by Cormac McCarthy seemed to be roughly this: What kind of a world do we live where the kind of clinical violence routinely practiced by the drug cartels is possible? It's a theme McCarthy addressed in No Country For Old Men, but in The Counsellor from the point of view of much less sympathetic main character, not a small town sheriff at the end of a long career of peacekeeping, but a sleek urbane lawyer with extravagant tastes.

Like No Country For Old Men, The Counselor shocks and repels on first viewing. But the film stays with you, and you find yourself several months later wanting to see it again. And then you'll know you're going to be watching this film repeatedly, until you can exhaust it's force, the compelling questions it asks, the characters it not so much develops as strikingly draws, and the savage actualities it tries to address.… Expand

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9

gigiharris17Nov 9, 2015

It's filthy, nasty, sexy, absurd, appalling, and exhilarating, and it succeeds as a musky union of novelist Cormac McCarthy's bleakness and Ridley Scott's sense of chic.

Watch it here for freeIt's filthy, nasty, sexy, absurd, appalling, and exhilarating, and it succeeds as a musky union of novelist Cormac McCarthy's bleakness and Ridley Scott's sense of chic.

Watch it here for free http://www.watchfree.to/watch-29def6-The-Counselor-movie-online-free-putlocker.html… Expand

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9

CheeseSteakJimJan 2, 2016

This is more of a piece of art than just another 'blockbuster'.
Deep, dark, and slick. Very well made, & original. Doesn't try to 'fit in' or imitate, but goes its own way... which is a breath of fresh air in my opinion.
Very classy film.This is more of a piece of art than just another 'blockbuster'.
Deep, dark, and slick. Very well made, & original. Doesn't try to 'fit in' or imitate, but goes its own way... which is a breath of fresh air in my opinion.
Very classy film. Cant believe its poor reception from other critics… Expand

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7

Verne22Jan 26, 2015

First of all i didn't read the novel so i can't compare the film to the original story. I didn't know anything about this film before i saw it, so i had a pretty neutral view from the start.

I liked this film a lot actually, so i wasFirst of all i didn't read the novel so i can't compare the film to the original story. I didn't know anything about this film before i saw it, so i had a pretty neutral view from the start.

I liked this film a lot actually, so i was shocked that the general score was only 5.5 at best. I started reading some reviews and it seems that most people didn't like it because it was to confusing and the fact that cameron diaz wasn't really the right choice for her role. While i can agree on the latter, i didn't really experience the movie as confusing, maybe some sequences can be a little vague but if you watch the movie a second time most of those vague points become clear and the gaps seem to be filled nicely as you already know the end and you can focus more on the details in the dialogue.

It's a pretty long movie but i think the pace and storytelling is pretty good. What i like most about the story is that it seems to give a fresh inside look on the world of justice, crime, the diamondbusiness, cocaine-export and international (semi)political intrigue. Especially for those people who still live in the 80's and think cocaine crimelords/dealers are some cool vigilante militia force to look up to, because let's be honest: they're not! So this is what i think that the movie does an excellent job at. The cinematography is very solid and the acting perfomances are also from average to very solid apart from cameron diaz's.

And sadly her character plays a substantial role in the plot, which is unfortunate because as i've said before, she didn't really do a good job at it. Maybe she didn't get it, maybe this form of acting wasn't really her cup of tea (i never had high regard for her skills, because i think she's more of a typecast than a method actor, but that's beside the point) and it really shows. So that's probably the main reason lots of people didn't like this movie.

Then we have the story and dialogue. I'm not a fan of these generic big budget hollywood flicks that rehash the same story over and over again, i also don't like the arthouse films very much because most of the time they are just boring experimental (and most of all pretentious) crap. This movie isn't either of those nor does it balance anywhere in between. This is in its true form a Ridley Scott picture, which means tragedy, some romance, suspense, awesome actors, the brutalness of reality... and that's exactly what you'll get. Some of the dialogue seems clumsy at times, and one or two times you'll have a scene that seems pretty pointless or disconnected from the plot, but i don't think it affects the movie in a way that it becomes annoying. And for the most part it ties up loose ends when you watch it a second time.

Now to the conclusion : Is it a great movie, is this Ridley Scott at his best? Hell no! Go watch alien or gladiator if that's what you're looking for! But... does this mean that it's a piece of crap that only deserves an average rating by users and critics of 5/10? No, not in my opinion anyway and that's pretty much the reason i posted this review because it's a solid movie that you have to see at least once. Then you can homage it or crap on it as much as you want. I just think, according to some reviews people didn't get it or they were expecting something closer to the novel. As i said i didn't read it so i have no opinion on that part, but to my experience fans of novel series will never be happy with the movie adaptations. I think it's a solid, pretty original movie and seeing as avatar got an average of 80%, and the pirates films got an overall of 70, while gems like (the original) dune only recieve an average of 60, it seems to me that a lot people immediately destroy a movie that appears to cryptic or doesn't follow the easy-to-understand hollywood formula and i just wanted to get it out there. So long story short : i thought it was good, give it a 7/10, and i recommend it to fans of crime movies and moviefans in general and i hope it will get a better rating over the years because it definitely deserves it!

Peace… Expand

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