The Counselor (PG) * * * Brute Force!

Cruel intentions are the order of the day in The Counselor. De­liver us pure evil by way of con­summate smart action director Ridley Scott. Blessed with an all start cast this over the top movie from 20th Century Fox is now smoking out the competition and all comers at the Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Cineplex Ode­on theatres around B.C. Think drugs and most locals think of British Columbia. Nar­cotics is an international busi­ness and a thriving growth area in Mexico.

South of the border we go to track the path of nice guy lawyer known as The Counselor. Busy actor Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) comes across smooothly as a friend to gang­sters whose legal skills are in high demand. Love, however gets in the way of his altrustic lifestyle.

Trapped in a serious love play and playing with his soul is sexy Lauran. Saucy Spanish babe Pe­nelope Cruz stands tall as the nice girl hoping to land a big fish and she has smitten our legal legal but good. Temptation is everywhere in this lifestyle and when our law­yer decides to get involved in a particular deal his life is changed in a major way.

Full of style and with an authentic drug culture atmosphere The Counselor makes for a pleas­ant experience. Down and dirty it gets as we see just how cruel these gangsters can be. Particularly pleasing are the tag team lovers Reiner and Mal­kina. Hot off his winning ways as 007 villain Raoul Silva is smooth as ice Javier Bardem whose bad hair and confusing dalliance with a never looked hotter Cameron Diaz (There’s Something About Mary) adds more sizzle to an already explosive story.

Bolstered by fine support work from Brad Pitt (se7en), John Le­guizamo and Reuben Blades The Counselor is a fine look at the drug cartel industry and the way it treats those who wrong them. Smart surprises and a well paced story make this 117 minute movie an entertaining drama whose un­predictable sexy characters add a voyeuristic thrill to the fast packed thrill a minute violent life­style these people revel in.