The Counselor
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, and Brad Pitt.
Rated R for graphic violence, some grisly images, strong sexual content and language.
Expectations were soaring high for this film. Directed by legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott with a screenplay from the Pulitzer Prize winning author of No Country for Old Men and The Road and featuring an all star cast led by the rising star, Michael Fassbender, The Counselor seemed poised for greatness. This is a highly complex film that will leave audiences frustrated and baffled by the words and world that screenwriter Cormac McCarthy has created. However, I do not believe that audiences' frustrations constitute this being labeled as a bad film.
Michael Fassbender plays a lawyer referred to only as "counselor." He has recently gotten engaged to his beautiful fiancee, Laura, played by Penelope Cruz. Facing financial problems and wanting to set up a wealthy life for his wife-to-be, the counselor engages in drug trafficking with the extravagant club owner, Reiner (Javier Bardem with even crazier hair than his Oscar winning role in No Country). Brad Pitt plays Westray, the middle man between the counselor and the drug cartel while Cameron Diaz plays Malkina, girlfriend to Reiner whose intentions are highly questionable. Somewhere along the way, the drug deal goes wrong and the counselor must try to survive and protect Laura from the onslaught that is sure to come.
This film has been criticized for its often indecipherable dialogue as well as plot points that are never fully explained or clarified. While this film was not exactly what I expected it to be, I believe that most of these criticisms only come from the surface of the film. This is a film that has many layers that may only be discovered upon repeat viewings. McCarthy's dialogue is vague and confusing, yes, but I feel that this was intentional. I feel that both McCarthy and Scott expected this kind of general reaction from audiences, but are secretly inviting those who are willing to take another look and discover the layers of hidden meaning within the film.
The film does have its faults with scenes that are unnecessary in that they do not contribute much to the characters or the story; however, there are numerous scenes filled with fascinating dialogue that dare the viewer to listen. Many have complained of the details left from the film, but such gaps have invited me to come up with my own conclusions and some of the possible scenarios make me want to go back and listen even more intently to what these characters are saying to one another. This is a film filled with immense foreshadowing, some obvious, and some not so obvious.
This is a dark film and a tragedy. If you're looking for happy endings or traditional formulaic thrillers, then I can promise that you will be disappointed. But if you're looking for a different film with many layers (and new ways to decapitate a person), then you might actually enjoy The Counselor. Though far from Ridley Scott's best films, this is still solid work from a versatile filmmaker. Cormac McCarthy may be more suited for literature, but fans of his prose should still find enjoyment from his poetic sounding dialogue.
RATING: B
