Ridley Scott: Ranking His Films From Worst To Best

18. The Counselor

Easily the most pretentious film in Ridley Scott's filmography though also probably his most underrated, The Counselor may prove that novelist Cormac McCarthy's dense prose doesn't translate super-comfortably to the cinematic medium, but as far as brooding thrillers go, it's still a breath of fresh air. The cast is superb and Michael Fassbender especially does a terrific job as the lead, though most of the film skirts away from the action-packed, eventful thriller many were probably expecting. For the most part The Counselor is a series of philosophical dialogues where people talk like they never do in real life, and yet, shot through by such talented actors (Javier Bardem hams it up beyond belief, and it's terrifically entertaining), it's actually a pretty interesting sit. Yes, it definitely should have been better overall and some of McCarthy's self-satisfied dialogues could have been trimmed down slightly here and there, but as a film with more on its mind than the basic thrills, it's nothing if not unforgettable. Oh, and Cameron Diaz has sex with a car, if that's your thing.