Blu-ray Review – The Counsellor (1973)

      The Counsellor, 1973.

      Directed by Alberto De Martino.

      Featuring Tomas Milian, Martin Balsam, Dagmar Lassander, Francisco Rabal, and Carlo Tamberlani.

      SYNOPSIS:

      When the godson of San Francisco's crime boss requests to exit "the business," Don Antonio consents, albeit with reluctance.

      After completing a two-year prison sentence for bribery, Thomas Accardo (Tomas Milian) returns as the adviser to mob leader and his godfather, Don Antonio (Martin Balsam). However, his time in prison prompts him to reconsider his life in organized crime, leading him to decide against continuing it. Despite Don Antonio’s attempts to change his mind, Thomas is resolute. When the news of his desire to leave and pursue a normal life spreads, it displeases other crime families, triggering a hostile takeover of Don Antonio's empire and forcing Thomas to rejoin the family to assist his godfather in dealing with their adversaries.

      The 1970s cinema scene featured both cool films and exceptionally cool films, and The Counsellor (also known as Counselor at Crime) falls into the latter category. With a funky soundtrack by Riz Ortolani, the film proudly displays its influences and captures the authentic grit of filming a Mafia story in the rough streets of San Francisco and part of Sicily. Drawing inspiration from The Godfather – unsurprisingly – The Counsellor emphasizes the bond between Don Antonio and Thomas Accardo, making it the focal point of the narrative. The charming on-screen chemistry between Martin Balsam, who excels as a ruthless yet amiable Mafia Don, and Tomas Milian ensures viewers remain engaged to learn their fate.

      As an Italian crime film, it includes car chases, intense shoot-outs, and brief moments of female nudity, covering all the expected bases. However, it is presented with a stylish flair, and 1970s San Francisco serves as a perfect backdrop for a crime thriller, especially following in the wake of Dirty Harry. The film’s final act transitions to Palermo, Sicily, bringing an authentic Italian mafioso experience through the alleys of the old country, leading up to a brutal confrontation that elevates the spectacle and culminates in an emotional final scene, one that could have faltered in less capable hands.

      Regarding poliziotteschi films, The Counsellor successfully meets all the anticipated dimensions with flair, making it an enjoyable watch, even for those who aren't deeply interested in Euro-crime cinema. For genre enthusiasts, it might seem somewhat predictable or clichéd, but straying too far from the formula would have transformed it into something entirely different. This film aims to utilize its resources fully. While it may not offer groundbreaking originality, in the realm of films modeled after The Godfather, Dirty Harry, or The French Connection, The Counsellor stands as a solid entry, and thanks to the chemistry of its leads and the catchy score, it is one you'll happily revisit time and again.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Chris Ward