So this might be a candidate for one of the worst Ridley Scott films I've seen. Like this is there with Exodus Gods & Kings. At least that made sense. The editing and pacing are both terrible here. This jumps around way too much between Fassbender, Diaz, generic Cartel Gangmembers, and sometimes I don't even know. It's like taking a lawyer trying to get his wife back from drug cartel people I think and like giving you a Robert Altman style multiple storylines of people involved with the drug trade behind the scenes. And I reiterate I THINK that what's happening here because it just straight is incoherent at times. How each intersected with the other I could not tell you. The acting isn't good and it's because of one major culprit. The dialouge...good god the dialouge is terrible. It's either like hearing grown adults talk like kids, plot expose, speaking in riddles, or just straight meandering and rambling nonstop. I swear the first 40 minutes is just nonstop dialouge and it's soooo boring. The cinematography isn't good either. It's just boring medium shots have the time and people just talking and talking and more freakin talking. This would be better if the dialouge was worth something but it isn't and the story is just a complete incoherent unfocused mess. It's like trying to be like Sicario type thing with multiple storylines. The music is boring generic and forgettable. The direction is alright I guess. There is legit 2-3 minutes of action total too and I just don't even know how it really adds in to things. It's a complete unclear mess. Skip This.

An amazing essay on raw life. Not an action film, rather the only bits of action it has I guess were left there because the story couldn't have been told otherwise. It certainly moves one out of their comfort zone, specially knowing the cast before watching it. Bit it surprises with names in completely unexpected and uneasing roles and vibes. Just remember to blink from time to time

Watched it for a second time last night. Loved it more than the first time (at the time of release). Diaz isn't convincing and maybe Cruz would have been the better cast for that role. Bardem and Fassbender are great but miss a Brad Pitt in form. He seems not really into it somehow Still well worth a watch for the tone of the movie and the writing by McCarthy.

Really wish I hadn't bothered.

I unapologetically love this film and it’s actually one of my favorites from Ridley Scott. It’s a magnificent and stylized study of the worst type of people in our world and how they all (almost) face the dire consequences of their decisions. The phone conversation between Fassbender and Rueben Blades at the end is both hauntingly beautiful and absolutely savage. Do not watch if you’re looking for a feel good movie. This is an example of the smaller, bolder mature films we are missing today… ones that aren’t afraid to look at the dark side of humanity for the sake of entertainment… and are done well.

There is a lot of foreshadowing in the dialogue and you need to pay attention to make better sense of the events later in the film.

Worst film Ive seen in a long time. Complete waste of talent.

I can get why some folks genuinely hate the film, but I love The Counselor because it plays like a visual novel. Not an adaptation, but it's as if the script is a novel that Ridley Scott is filming word-for-word. Bizarre dialogue and character beats help solidify what feels like Cormac McCarthy's unapologetic crime saga, complete with stunning cinematography and impeccable production design.

A underrated but badly miscast film. If the viewers are needed to read McCarthy's work to understand a movie like this, so are potential cast members as well. Brad Pitt, Fassbender, and Bardem, did well for their roles. Diaz was just a poor choice of casting and a number of the side characters. You can tell filming this movie was really awkward because of how perplexed the cast would have been by the dialogue. Fassbender's acting feels very forced and he mumbles too much. I don't think people can immediately grasp the depth of McCarthy's characters. They're not supposed to be interpreted as pseudo-profound, wannabe, academic Hollywood. You can tell how dumb an actor/actress is by how poorly the lines are executed. It's a shame with the casting because the screenplay and directing is great. Classic McCarthy.

The only character in the film I didn't like was Malkina. What she was able to do was a bit far fetched, however, there was enough here with star power and excellent acting to keep me interested. Some of Ridley Scott's recent offerings are a bit high brow, but he is still one of the best. It shines through at times with this.

A sick, twisted, and viciously cruel movie but at least it's an extremely well made sick, twisted, and viciously cruel movie.

I'm a Ridley Scott fan. Blade Runner is one of my favourite films of all time, and several other of his films among the finest. The Counselor, despite having all of the right ingredients on paper, is painfully bad. The cast doesn't mesh well, perhaps it has something to do with how the characters are developed, which is weak and slow. The script if often excruciatingly long-winded and contrived. I don't find Fassbender and Cruz credible as a couple here, and I really like both actors. Bardem's character is insufferable and also too contrived, despite his great acting talent. Diaz does nice and likeable too well to pull off her character here. I couldn't finish watching this film.

A brilliantly directed narrative about the personal consequences of submitting to temptation induced by greed. Ridley Scott has cleverly created a subtly evil atmosphere that increasingly pervades the whole film to the point where it becomes genuinely terrifying. A spellbinding production that is very unsettling. Michael Fassbinder's depiction of initial conceit mixed with weakness is spot on while Cameron Diaz turns in a performance so above her usual mark it is arguably the best of her career. Pemberton's score is perfect for this masterpiece. All in all a brilliant outlining of how the ignorant human ego can drift unwittingly but surely into the clutches of pure evil.

Great beginning yet completely floundered out. No climax just a sad and hopeless ending. Cameron Diaz' sexuality creepy and as unappealing as a middle aged escort. Penelope getting punched in the face so unnecessary to the plot but probably there to fulfill some viewers appetite for sexual violence. The counselor never stood a chance in this movie, just depressing…

This is so unlike Ridley Scott!!!! "The Counselor" initially held promise with its intriguing premise, but ultimately fell short, leaving a bitter taste by the end. The movie failed to deliver on its potential, particularly in its conclusion, which left the main character, the Counselor, hanging in a dissatisfying and unresolved manner. The film's downfall primarily stemmed from its underdeveloped storyline and a lack of closure for the characters. As the plot unfolded, it became apparent that the narrative struggled to find a coherent direction, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfactory experience for the audience. One of the most disappointing aspects was the conclusion, which left the Counselor's fate unresolved and offered little closure for the audience, leaving us feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. This lack of a satisfying resolution significantly detracted from the overall impact of the story. Given these shortcomings, I'd strongly advise against watching "The Counselor." While it may pique initial interest, its failure to deliver a compelling narrative and a satisfactory ending ultimately leaves viewers feeling let down and frustrated.

I have now seen what should be agreed upon by the majority of movie watchers, as the worst movie ever made. I could not tell if it was a satire or just written by a group of 6th graders in English class. Im still wondering how the leopards got out of the back of the suv. How the amazing set of actors and actresses agreed to this - I have no idea. And the catfish snatch scene made me vomit a bit in my mouth. Ill never look at Cameron Diaz the same. Yikes. 😳 An absolutely disaster of a move with zero qualities except humorous in a few parts. Everyone in ‘The Counselor' needs some counseling on their career decisions as this one was about as bad as it gets. Time to retire maybe. Im surprised Paris Hilton didn't do a cameo as a hyena raising arms dealer who, along with her midget bf, ran guns for the Mexican mafia but delivered them surprisingly in a hot air ballon with her quick witted parakeet named Alfonso who would be voiced by that dude from the Police Academy movies - which I watched just the other night and am now blown away by how better those movies were when compared to this embarrassment to all Americans.

Still to this day I have no idea how, with so much talent involved, that this movie got released in its end state. I can believe the screen test were any good, the movie was just BAD, plain and simple. I have no problem saying I have probably watched more than 10,000 movies in my life, and this was the worst, it was so bad giving it a peeper critique is not worth my time.

Was really looking forward to seeing this, but there was no one to even like they were all horrible people. so maybe thats way i didn't enjoy it but it was nice to see C D in such a different kind of role

The characters are cardboard cut-outs and the dialogue stinks

I remember rushing to the theatre to see this on opening night. 10 yrs later, it's still the most disappointing cinematic experience along with a movie called Hurley Burley. those might be the 2 worst I ever saw. perplexing considering the talent involved.