CONNOR BURTON and DAVID GLANTZ
Specials to The Leader
The Counselor is a suspense thriller about a respected lawyer who gets caught up in a drug deal gone badly as the world around him spirals out of control. It is a film of greed, caution and deception and the consequences of a dangerous world.
One of the most difficult films in recent memories The Counselor was difficult to generate an opinion on. Expectations were high with such a stellar cast — Ridley Scott at the helm and the great writer Cormac McCarthy’s first screenplay. The results are nothing like I’ve seen before.
The dialogue was more like a stage script than a traditional screenplay, featuring philosophical monologues about caution and greed. The language he used was often beautiful, but it was so caught up in the flow of the words that the plot becomes confusing. At several moments, I was left scratching my head as I tried to piece everything together.
There were many good aspects about The Counselor, and it certainly is an eccentric film, but it’s a difficult one to recommend. For casual moviegoers, it is likely to disappoint with its confusing plot. Those who appreciate a challenge and can respect the beauty of the dialogue McCarthy has written will find themselves with much to ponder afterwards.
Ridley Scott is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers working today. He has directed such classics as Alien, Blade Runner and Gladiator. This was a whole new territory in which Scott explored. Although his directing is crisp and evident throughout the film, it is McCarthy’s script that bled through and truly resonated. Even though this was McCarthy’s first original screenplay, it played out as if we are watching one of his novels being portrayed on screen. His screenplay was full of rich dialogue and symbolism and while that was the case it was still an absolute pleasure to watch this ensemble cast converse with one another through the entire film.
This film was like a puzzle and each star’s role is just another way to piece it together. This was Javier Bardem’s second time around working with McCarthy’s material. The first, of course, was “No Country for Old Men” and he once again delivers a great performance. Michael Fassbender who is one of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood, balancing blockbusters like “X-Men” with deeper roles like this film. He gave another great performance, as he was given opportunity to showcase some powerful, raw emotion in several scenes. As a man who is in over his head, you could see in his eyes a man on the edge of losing it all.
“The Counselor” is not for the faint of heart, both for its heavy script that demands the viewer’s complete attention but also the occasional scenes of brutality. If you are up to the challenge, “The Counselor” is a thought provoking, beautifully written film that demands a lot from the viewer and is not for everyone. For those willing, there is an experience to be had in this film like no other.