The Counselor

Directed by Ridley Scott from an original screenplay by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy, The Counselor stars Michael Fassbender as the titular Texas lawyer, a man who encounters all sorts of disreputable folks, ranging from men like weird, wild-haired nightclub owner Reiner (Javier Bardem) and sly, smooth-talking Westray (Brad Pitt), to women such as Reiner's femme fatale girlfriend, the callously manipulative Malkina (Cameron Diaz), and jittery jailbird Ruth (Rosie Perez). When the rather naïve legal eagle (ignoring explicit warnings about the risks involved) makes a pivotal choice to participate in a dangerous $20 million drug trafficking deal—involving cocaine stashed in a septic truck that will be driven across the border from Mexico to El Paso en route to Chicago—it turns out to be a fateful decision that will not only affect his own life but also that of his beloved fiancée, Laura (Penélope Cruz). The Counselor suffers from a clumsy, confusing plot peopled with ambiguous yet decidedly archetypal characters who are emotionally detached and given to Shakespearean-like soliloquies. Despite a plethora of steamy sex scenes and unrelenting violence, this is a visually dull tale (with some vivid moments, such as elegantly collared cheetahs dashing through the desert) that is both brutal and depressing. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include "Viral Pieces: Uncut" companion shorts (8 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are both the theatrical and unrated versions of the film, a "Truth of the Situation" viewing option with audio commentary track by director Ridley Scott that also plays various featurettes (78 min.), and a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a cinematic misfire.] (S. Granger)