The Counselor
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz
Directed By: Ridley Scott
Reviewed by Danielle Muir

[rating: 2/5]

You’d think a script by novelist Cormac McCarthy and brought to life by behind-the-camera legend Ridley Scott would have the makings of a modern masterpiece, but unfortunately it seems egos and brought The Counsellor to its knees.

Fassbender plays the aforementioned ‘Counsellor’ – who for unknown reasons (one only assumes greed) decides to dip his toe into the drug smuggling business, aided by his associates – the spiky-haired, eclectic Reiner (Bardem) and urban cowboy Westray (Pitt). As events spiral off the rails, the Counsellor realizes that the consequences of his involvement are beyond imagination. This is primarily illustrated through a series of self-involved D and M’s.

The Counsellor certainly has intriguing characters and great performances from the outset – Fassbender is as always likeable as the man in way too deep, and his relationship with Penelope Cruz wreaks of genuine, if not a little smutty, love.  Javier bounces off the walls as the uber-rich Reiner, who is an unlikely match for pussy-cat Malkina (Diaz, whose infamous car sex scene is etched into my brain), and Brad oozes charm as he spouts his philosophical you-know-what.

I’m all for fresh dialogue but when you’re bombarded with wave after wave of linguistic drivel, it’s a bit hard to connect with anyone, and therefore care for how their lives roll out. There are certainly some shocking imagery and clever twists, but overall the film descends into self-indulgent mush. Confusing, self-indulgent mush. The reason Tarantino gets away with having 20 minute dialogue scenes are that it’s entertaining – there’s tension, laughs and wisecracks.

McCarthy fans might get a kick out of seeing the novelists distinctive writing style spoken by the world’s biggest stars, others will just roll their eyes.