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The Counselor: A Screenplay (2013)

by Cormac McCarthy(Favorite Author)

3.36 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Picador

review 1: It's 2 to 2.5 OK plus (just). But not great. It's striking how a screenplay and his more recent novels feel like there is perhaps less different than in most cases - the sparse prose and basic characterisation, with only minimal description. I've not seen the film - there may be more life brought to it - particularly with that cast, but the reviews suggest not.But this fails for me as none of the characters felt particularly well rounded - and certainly not sympathetic. The Counselor himself is a flat character - nothing to 'get hold of' in his character - although his main development scenes - buying a diamond was more to advance McCormack's views via the jeweller, and the sex scene at the start was just strangely out of place - not sure what it brought (was it used f... morerom another book?) but not nearly as much as the car scene (nope, I still can't see why it's in there, other than perhaps he knew Cameron Diaz would be in it). Some pieces are well done, some completely inevitable (ever found an author who describes an unusual/elaborate way of killing and who then doesn't use it?), and others are clearly signposted as Clearly-Full-Of-Big-Meaning-To-The-Extent-You'll-Switch-Off (every time the leopards made an appearance).The scene with the package in the hotel is almost surprising in how powerful it is as the reader realises just as the character does what the significance is - but that's a frustrating reminder of how much better this could be. Patchy - a missed opportunity.
review 2: First of all, this screenplay is one of a very dark taste and is clear from the start that it is not one to have a happy ending for all its characters.The story follows a criminal lawyer, known only as The Counsellor. He is a man who loves the riches and to get there doesn't mind bending the law. He decides that dipping his fingers in a bit of drug trafficking will help him earn a bit of extra cash on the side. Unfortunately, his arrogance leads him to underestimate the sheer brutally of these criminals that are involved in the business, as he soon finds out when his whole life comes to a sudden standstill, as his life - as well as the lives of his friends and loved ones - are threatened.Early on in the screenplay, a character called Reiner describes to the counsellor a death machine called a bolito. Unfortunately, this machine comes into play in later events of the writing. This foreshadowing of events is what I find brilliant.The essence of a screenplay is being able to tell a story mainly through the personalities of the characters and their conversations together. Author, Syd Field has previously stated that in a screenplay every line of dialogue should have a meaning and must progress the narrative. This is exactly what Cormac McCarthy has done with The Counsellor. The conversations between characters are believable, witty and at times very humorous. The characters personalities shine through.As I said before, The Counsellor is a dark and twisted tale that tells the reader that every action in the world has severe consequences; focusing on the underworld of rich criminals were they will literally do anything the get what they want. McCarthy braves what many screenwriters, and even some authors, fear doing, which is crossing the boundary of being disturbing.If you want to be left stunned and very down-hearted to say the least, this is the book for you.Though only rated three stars, it is an excellent narrative and is well worth reading if you have, or even have not, seen the motion picture. I have even shelved it on my 'forever-memorable' shelf because that is just what it is. There is a very dramatic moment with the counsellor right towards the end of the narrative as he sits in a grungey apartment. Hard to say without spoilers, but those who have read will know which I mean, and those willing to read will come to know. This is a scene from the book and the movie that I shall never forget. Though I have given all praise, there is one action sequence that is slightly hard to navigate through in my opinion because the characters are not named. And as well as this, there are so many doublecrosses that it's sometimes hard to understand who is helping whom. But all in all I believe it to be an excellent read and one that I will surely read again. I also highly recommend you put your feet up on the couch and give the film a viewing after. less

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