The Counselor | Rotten Tomatoes

The Counselor

R

Released Oct 25, 2013

1 hr. 57 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

List

34%

219 Reviews

Tomatometer

24%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Bro

The only character in the film I didn't like was Malkina. What she was able to do was a bit far fetched, however, there was enough here with star power and excellent acting to keep me interested. Some of Ridley Scott's recent offerings are a bit high brow, but he is still one of the best. It shines through at times with this.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

Alec B

A sick, twisted, and viciously cruel movie but at least it's an extremely well made sick, twisted, and viciously cruel movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Steph G

I'm a Ridley Scott fan. Blade Runner is one of my favourite films of all time, and several other of his films among the finest. The Counselor, despite having all of the right ingredients on paper, is painfully bad. The cast doesn't mesh well, perhaps it has something to do with how the characters are developed, which is weak and slow. The script if often excruciatingly long-winded and contrived. I don't find Fassbender and Cruz credible as a couple here, and I really like both actors. Bardem's character is insufferable and also too contrived, despite his great acting talent. Diaz does nice and likeable too well to pull off her character here. I couldn't finish watching this film.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

Rick R

A brilliantly directed narrative about the personal consequences of submitting to temptation induced by greed. Ridley Scott has cleverly created a subtly evil atmosphere that increasingly pervades the whole film to the point where it becomes genuinely terrifying. A spellbinding production that is very unsettling. Michael Fassbinder's depiction of initial conceit mixed with weakness is spot on while Cameron Diaz turns in a performance so above her usual mark it is arguably the best of her career. Pemberton's score is perfect for this masterpiece. All in all a brilliant outlining of how the ignorant human ego can drift unwittingly but surely into the clutches of pure evil.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

Full Review

Stephanie B

Great beginning yet completely floundered out. No climax just a sad and hopeless ending. Cameron Diaz' sexuality creepy and as unappealing as a middle aged escort. Penelope getting punched in the face so unnecessary to the plot but probably there to fulfill some viewers appetite for sexual violence. The counselor never stood a chance in this movie, just depressing…

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

EJD D

This is so unlike Ridley Scott!!!! "The Counselor" initially held promise with its intriguing premise, but ultimately fell short, leaving a bitter taste by the end. The movie failed to deliver on its potential, particularly in its conclusion, which left the main character, the Counselor, hanging in a dissatisfying and unresolved manner. The film's downfall primarily stemmed from its underdeveloped storyline and a lack of closure for the characters. As the plot unfolded, it became apparent that the narrative struggled to find a coherent direction, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfactory experience for the audience. One of the most disappointing aspects was the conclusion, which left the Counselor's fate unresolved and offered little closure for the audience, leaving us feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. This lack of a satisfying resolution significantly detracted from the overall impact of the story. Given these shortcomings, I'd strongly advise against watching "The Counselor." While it may pique initial interest, its failure to deliver a compelling narrative and a satisfactory ending ultimately leaves viewers feeling let down and frustrated.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/16/23

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Therese Lacson

Nerdophiles

McCarthy is ambitious in his first original screenplay,(...) in the end (...) [it] could even be too verbose for a critical audience.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 9, 2021

Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

Even if it's sometimes bumbling and inexplicable - it's never not totally captivating.

Jul 6, 2021

Full Review

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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
Executive Producer: Cormac McCarthy, Mark Huffam, Michael Schaefer, Michael Costigan
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
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Stereo

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