THE COUNSELOR
(2013)
Directed by- Ridley Scott
Written by- Cormac McCarthy
*Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt
Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy's The Counselor is a visceral and flashy thriller that's too high on style to care about substance.
Everyone's a snazzy dresser, the arid landscapes arch sexily like a feline hunter and the threat of death hangs behind the lure of money.
Scott tries to provide a sense of underhanded conspiracy to the film, but in doing so, the plot fails to make sense, always superseded by seemingly smart conversations and exotic locales.
You proceed from scene to scene trying to unsheathe the intentions that truly lie behind those colorful shades and perfect mascara, but to no avail, as when the film ends you are left gaping at its total lack of finality and an underwhelmingly indifferent conclusion.
The cast promised a powerhouse of performances and I can't say that it was all a lie. Yes, I didn't find an incredible performance where I was looking, but was pleasantly surprised by something entirely unexpected.
Javier Bardem's Reiner seemed too rehearsed, his oddity too perfect to be believed. And that's what put me off, not to mention the plot-irrelevant shit that he talked. His whole character, which could have been the saving grace of the film with its unpredictable zaniness (if done right) turned out to be what gave away just how fake it all was.
But it was Cameron Diaz as the icy-eyed and leopard-printed huntress, Malkina, who got under my skin. I simply loved her aura of chaotic authority, but like all things in this film it was hollow, though honestly I didn't quite mind that, in the face of her undeniable sexiness.
Fassbender, with his singular expression didn't quite impress until the final scenes when the noose tightened around his neck (not quite literally, like Pitt's Westray) and he got to play out some really intense scenes.
Finally, coming from McCarthy I expected an intense plot that would shock and satisfy me in equal measure, but was ultimately let down.
A few dialogues were beautiful and transcended the overall mediocrity of this film.
Scott has been overindulgent with his commercial and big scale movies of late and though I really liked his previous exotic thriller, Body of Lies (which was 6 years ago, by the way), this one just destroys another shred of hope that I had from him.
And there's not much left honestly.
Rating- 2.7/5
(2013)
Directed by- Ridley Scott
Written by- Cormac McCarthy
*Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz, Brad Pitt
Ridley Scott and Cormac McCarthy's The Counselor is a visceral and flashy thriller that's too high on style to care about substance.
Everyone's a snazzy dresser, the arid landscapes arch sexily like a feline hunter and the threat of death hangs behind the lure of money.
Scott tries to provide a sense of underhanded conspiracy to the film, but in doing so, the plot fails to make sense, always superseded by seemingly smart conversations and exotic locales.
You proceed from scene to scene trying to unsheathe the intentions that truly lie behind those colorful shades and perfect mascara, but to no avail, as when the film ends you are left gaping at its total lack of finality and an underwhelmingly indifferent conclusion.
The cast promised a powerhouse of performances and I can't say that it was all a lie. Yes, I didn't find an incredible performance where I was looking, but was pleasantly surprised by something entirely unexpected.
Javier Bardem's Reiner seemed too rehearsed, his oddity too perfect to be believed. And that's what put me off, not to mention the plot-irrelevant shit that he talked. His whole character, which could have been the saving grace of the film with its unpredictable zaniness (if done right) turned out to be what gave away just how fake it all was.
But it was Cameron Diaz as the icy-eyed and leopard-printed huntress, Malkina, who got under my skin. I simply loved her aura of chaotic authority, but like all things in this film it was hollow, though honestly I didn't quite mind that, in the face of her undeniable sexiness.
Fassbender, with his singular expression didn't quite impress until the final scenes when the noose tightened around his neck (not quite literally, like Pitt's Westray) and he got to play out some really intense scenes.
Finally, coming from McCarthy I expected an intense plot that would shock and satisfy me in equal measure, but was ultimately let down.
A few dialogues were beautiful and transcended the overall mediocrity of this film.
Scott has been overindulgent with his commercial and big scale movies of late and though I really liked his previous exotic thriller, Body of Lies (which was 6 years ago, by the way), this one just destroys another shred of hope that I had from him.
And there's not much left honestly.
Rating- 2.7/5
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