The Counselor

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The Counselor

R

Released Oct 25, 2013

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

218 Reviews

24%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A Bentley-driving Texas lawyer (Michael Fassbender) appears to have it all, including a beautiful fiancee named Laura (Penélope Cruz) -- but his financial needs force him to become involved in an ill-advised drug deal. His partners in the venture include middleman Westray (Brad Pitt), shady nightclub owner Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Malkina (Cameron Diaz), Reiner's sociopathic lover. Unsurprisingly, the counselor's deal spirals out of control, placing both him and Laura in mortal danger.

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Critics Consensus

The Counselor raises expectations with its talented cast and creative crew -- then subverts them with a wordy and clumsy suspense thriller that's mercilessly short on suspense or thrills.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

metro.co.uk

It's like watching a movie in another language.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 6, 2017

Full Review

Alissa Wilkinson

Christianity Today

[McCarthy] reminds us (with a particularly American sensibility) that this world is broken and tragic and not fair, and that pushing past that fact too fast is an error we can't afford to make, for the good of our souls.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 13, 2016

Full Review

Wesley Morris

Grantland

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.

Dec 10, 2013

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Mike Thorn

In Review Online

The Counselor shows Scott’s pessimism alongside his obsessions with visual design and environment...

Oct 10, 2024

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JD Duran

InSession Film

The movie tries to be outside the box but only lives in despair and lifeless blunder.

Rated: D+

Aug 15, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Just as he's done in many of his novels, McCarthy's first screenplay follows his stylized, almost mythically cynicism with unwavering detachment and insight.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 22, 2022

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Esteban M

An amazing essay on raw life. Not an action film, rather the only bits of action it has I guess were left there because the story couldn't have been told otherwise. It certainly moves one out of their comfort zone, specially knowing the cast before watching it. Bit it surprises with names in completely unexpected and uneasing roles and vibes. Just remember to blink from time to time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/25

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Jeroen J

Watched it for a second time last night. Loved it more than the first time (at the time of release). Diaz isn't convincing and maybe Cruz would have been the better cast for that role. Bardem and Fassbender are great but miss a Brad Pitt in form. He seems not really into it somehow Still well worth a watch for the tone of the movie and the writing by McCarthy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/24

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Christopher G

Really wish I hadn't bothered.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

Full Review

Eric C

I unapologetically love this film and it’s actually one of my favorites from Ridley Scott. It’s a magnificent and stylized study of the worst type of people in our world and how they all (almost) face the dire consequences of their decisions. The phone conversation between Fassbender and Rueben Blades at the end is both hauntingly beautiful and absolutely savage. Do not watch if you’re looking for a feel good movie. This is an example of the smaller, bolder mature films we are missing today… ones that aren’t afraid to look at the dark side of humanity for the sake of entertainment… and are done well.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Remo W

There is a lot of foreshadowing in the dialogue and you need to pay attention to make better sense of the events later in the film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

Full Review

Mike Paddy O

Worst film Ive seen in a long time. Complete waste of talent.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/24

Full Review

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Ridley Scott

Director

Michael Fassbender

Counselor

Penélope Cruz

Laura

Cameron Diaz

Malkina

Javier Bardem

Reiner

Brad Pitt

Westray

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Critics Consensus: The Counselor is Eccentric but Uneven

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Synopsis

A Bentley-driving Texas lawyer (Michael Fassbender) appears to have it all, including a beautiful fiancee named Laura (Penélope Cruz) -- but his financial needs force him to become involved in an ill-advised drug deal. His partners in the venture include middleman Westray (Brad Pitt), shady nightclub owner Reiner (Javier Bardem) and Malkina (Cameron Diaz), Reiner's sociopathic lover. Unsurprisingly, the counselor's deal spirals out of control, placing both him and Laura in mortal danger.

Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Ridley Scott, Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz
Screenwriter: Cormac McCarthy
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Chockstone Pictures, Nick Wechsler
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Violence|Some Grisly Images|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 10, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.9M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Stereo

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