Cormac McCarthy is, in my opinion, America's greatest writer, peaking with the staggeringly brilliant Blood Meridian (note: not for all readers). While a number of his books have become successful movies (The Road, No Country for Old Men, Child of God, All the Pretty Horses) several scripts exclusively for film have, in various stages, died on the vine. "The Councelor" made it.
The film has some of the intricacy, intensity and savagery of many of his successful efforts, has a very strong cast including Michael Fassbender (the Counselor), Penélope Cruz (Laura), Cameron Diaz (Malkina), Javier Bardem (Reiner) and Brad Pitt (Westray), was directed by Ridley Scott and is riveting. But there is something very wrong with this film, despite its obvious credentials.
The main character is a lawyer who has gone bad--just once. He conspires with Reiner and Westray to bring in cocaine for sale to distributors. His wife, Laura, is the embodiment of everything good, beautiful and optimistic in life; virtually everything else is corrupt, cynical, predatory and savage. Slowly other predators circle the shipment, people are betrayed, ambushed and brutalized. Suspicions arise and the retaliation starts. Some run, some hide, all are stalked by the worst of the worst. It is chaos on the savanna; ancient angry Man, better motivated and better armed.
This is not really about good and evil; only Laura--charmingly done by Cruz--is good. This is mostly evil, de Sade and Hobbes and Thomas Kyd and Mr. Hyde all elegantly dressed and handsome and wealthy. And it is not without some success. Life is very hard; power and lust and greed often get out of control and end badly. Nor is it simple; One character escapes with a plan to go to Hong Kong where she will do well because "I am a quick study." You want to yell at her, "Don't you see? You can not prepare, you can not learn enough."
There is a moment--actually a dangerously long soliloquy--where a drug boss is explaining life to the Councilor. He talks about the unpredictability of life, how it mutates and twists, how every moment opens each to the unimaginable and sometime--often times--the unspeakable . It is actually like "No one steps into the same river twice" but suggests more piranhas and alligators than mystery. It is all true but inadequate. Somehow the drama needs more reason. As well written and dramatic The Duchess of Malfi is, it is simply too far from its audience to be internalized.
McCarthy seems more fluid in times other than the present: His wonderful Border Trilogy, the futuristic The Road. Perhaps this grim view is too hyperbolic when placed in the current time when the audience is trying only to get to work on time, to find a good date--maybe a nice dinner. Perhaps his lessons are better taught when the audience has less concrete moorings.
In a way "The Counselor" is a movie that proves itself: A genius writer, a talented cast, a renowned director all create something quite unexpected. But at least they didn't torture Penélope Cruz on screen.
The film has some of the intricacy, intensity and savagery of many of his successful efforts, has a very strong cast including Michael Fassbender (the Counselor), Penélope Cruz (Laura), Cameron Diaz (Malkina), Javier Bardem (Reiner) and Brad Pitt (Westray), was directed by Ridley Scott and is riveting. But there is something very wrong with this film, despite its obvious credentials.
The main character is a lawyer who has gone bad--just once. He conspires with Reiner and Westray to bring in cocaine for sale to distributors. His wife, Laura, is the embodiment of everything good, beautiful and optimistic in life; virtually everything else is corrupt, cynical, predatory and savage. Slowly other predators circle the shipment, people are betrayed, ambushed and brutalized. Suspicions arise and the retaliation starts. Some run, some hide, all are stalked by the worst of the worst. It is chaos on the savanna; ancient angry Man, better motivated and better armed.
This is not really about good and evil; only Laura--charmingly done by Cruz--is good. This is mostly evil, de Sade and Hobbes and Thomas Kyd and Mr. Hyde all elegantly dressed and handsome and wealthy. And it is not without some success. Life is very hard; power and lust and greed often get out of control and end badly. Nor is it simple; One character escapes with a plan to go to Hong Kong where she will do well because "I am a quick study." You want to yell at her, "Don't you see? You can not prepare, you can not learn enough."
There is a moment--actually a dangerously long soliloquy--where a drug boss is explaining life to the Councilor. He talks about the unpredictability of life, how it mutates and twists, how every moment opens each to the unimaginable and sometime--often times--the unspeakable . It is actually like "No one steps into the same river twice" but suggests more piranhas and alligators than mystery. It is all true but inadequate. Somehow the drama needs more reason. As well written and dramatic The Duchess of Malfi is, it is simply too far from its audience to be internalized.
McCarthy seems more fluid in times other than the present: His wonderful Border Trilogy, the futuristic The Road. Perhaps this grim view is too hyperbolic when placed in the current time when the audience is trying only to get to work on time, to find a good date--maybe a nice dinner. Perhaps his lessons are better taught when the audience has less concrete moorings.
In a way "The Counselor" is a movie that proves itself: A genius writer, a talented cast, a renowned director all create something quite unexpected. But at least they didn't torture Penélope Cruz on screen.
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