The Counselor
Dir: Ridley Scott
2013
****
Ridley Scott's The Counselor received some pretty harsh criticism on it's release, criticism that I find totally unjustified and fairly puzzling. The Counselor was written by Cormac McCarthy and anyone who has read any of his work will tell you this film is pure Cormac McCarthy, indeed it is a perfect visual realisation of Cormac McCarthy's words. In this sense it is faultless. In fact, my only criticism is that it's just a little bit too cinematic, for want of a better word. That is just a niggle though as it looks great. I suspect the audience expected something different based on the cast and the misleading post-production advertising, it's continually frustrating that the audience is now fast becoming the narrow minded element in cinema going rather than the greedy talentless executive producers. The cast do an amazing job, each one giving brilliant performances but making them look effortless. The script is sharp as a knife and would impress equally if it was just a radio drama. Like I said, it's pure Cormac McCarthy but it's only the audience that seem to have missed that. And everyone loved A Good Year? I just don't get it. The Counselor is unfortunately 2013's 'Killing Them Softly'. Poor old Brad!