The Counselor
The Counselor

Movie spotlight

The Counselor

2016
Movie
11 min
English

At a crisis center in late 1971, a freshly minted counselor on the late shift takes his first call: a suicidal teenager whose parents won't let her come home for Christmas. The call exposes truths about each that lead to a surprising conclusion.

Insights

IMDb5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes34%
Metacritic47/100
Google Users51%
Director: Ridley ScottGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A lawyer, known only as The Counselor, gets involved in a dangerous drug-dealing scheme with a wealthy businessman, Reiner. Despite warnings from his associates and the enigmatic Malkina, he becomes entangled in a violent world where betrayal and death are constants. As the situation spirals out of control, he finds himself desperately trying to escape the consequences of his poor choices.

Critical Reception

The Counselor received largely negative reviews from critics, who often cited its convoluted and bleak storyline, excessive violence, and underdeveloped characters. While Ridley Scott's direction and the star-studded cast were sometimes acknowledged, the film was widely criticized for its script and grim tone. Audience reception was similarly muted, leading to a disappointing box office performance.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual style and impressive cast, but criticized for a convoluted and often nonsensical plot.

  • The film's bleak and nihilistic tone was a point of contention for many reviewers.

  • Despite strong performances, the characters were often seen as poorly developed and unlikeable.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be overly violent and confusing, with many disliking the dark and hopeless narrative. Some viewers appreciated the acting and directing, but the story's lack of clarity and unsatisfying conclusion were significant drawbacks for most.

Fun Fact

The film's screenplay was written by Cormac McCarthy, marking his first original screenplay for a film.

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