The Counselor (2013)
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A high-level lawyer faces devastating consequences after becoming entangled in a dangerous drug deal involving Mexican cartels.
The story
The Counselor, a high-level lawyer from Texas, becomes involved in a high-stakes drug deal involving a shipment of cocaine moving from Mexico to the United States. While the deal promises a massive return, the Counselor is warned about the ruthless nature of the Mexican cartels involved. The situation escalates when a theft occurs, and the Counselor finds himself caught in the crossfire of a violent conflict between rival interests and the cartels. As the consequences of his choices begin to mount, he must navigate a world of extreme violence and danger to protect those he cares about.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
A Texas lawyer known as the Counselor participates in a drug deal with a group of associates, including a man named Reiner. The deal involves a shipment of cocaine from Mexico. However, a theft by a woman named Malkina and her accomplice, the Wireman, leads to a violent confrontation. The Counselor is left responsible for the missing drugs in the eyes of the ruthless Mexican cartels. While the Wireman and his associates are killed in a shootout, the cartel recovers the drugs and kidnaps the Counselor's girlfriend, Laura. The Counselor seeks help from a high-ranking cartel member, Jefe, who offers only grim, philosophical advice. Ultimately, the Counselor is left in Mexico, broken and mourning, after receiving a snuff film of Laura. Meanwhile, Malkina's pursuit of profit leads her to London, where she orchestrates the death of Westray using a 'bolito' device and prepares to move to Hong Kong.
- First release year
- 2013
- Runtime (minutes)
- 117
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- Cormac McCarthy · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michael Fassbender · the Counselor; Penélope Cruz; Cameron Diaz; Javier Bardem; Brad Pitt
- Genres
- crime thriller; crime drama
- Themes
- consequences of greed; violence of the drug trade; fate
- Tone and mood
- violent; bleak; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- crime; drug trade; noir
- Source material / true-story basis
- Cormac McCarthy's original script
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews and was noted for being critically divisive, with some critics praising the script and performances while others criticized the pacing and construction.
- Production trivia
- The film features a scene where the character Jefe recites poetry by Antonio Machado.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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