Thursday, October 24, 2013
The Counselor Review - 2 Stars
Based on a Cormac McCarthy novel “The Counselor” hopes to draw fans of McCarthy’s works and of the earlier movie based on his work “No Country for Old Men.” Set in El Paso, Michael Fassbender begins the story in bed with Penelope Cruz and we learn that they will soon marry. A trip overseas buys the perfect ring and the engagement is set. But for reasons we never know, Fassbender needs money—even though he drives a Rolls convertible and lives in a lavish condo. Fassbender elects to participate in a drug deal involving Javier Bardem, Cameron Cruz, and Brad Pitt. Things go wrong through no fault of his own and he pays a very hard price. Cameron Diaz plays Bardem’s cold-hearted overly sexual girlfriend and spews a few speeches to let us know she’s hard and cold. She also has a scene on the windshield of a Porsche designed to shock, but the designs are so apparent it achieves little. “The Counselor” seems to boil down to a lot of glamorous people talking. The movie has a few too many confusing turns and never really catches fire. Does it deliver what it promises? Not very sexy and very talky. Is it entertaining? A tease that does not deliver. Is it worth the price of admission? Not nearly as good as you expect.