The Counsel (2010)

Right out of school, Leo Demarsan is hired by a distinguished firm. Being selected points to a good future. Leo has been living with Eve a beautiful young woman of color. Both are happy with the turn their lives are taking, so what is there not to like about this new life? Plenty.Leo's first case, defending a man involved with some mafia types in the area, is a big win for Leo, and for the firm as well. The president of the law office, Jacques Meco, offers some advice to his young employee: he must do everything for his client, even when he knows he is hiding things from him. The men he defended is associated to Paul Vanoni, a mafia man operating in the Montpellier area. Paul Vanoni brings Leo into his world. Little does Leo know what he is getting himself into. One day an undercover investigator meets Leo and shows him how the police know he is more involved than he realizes. The man wants to get his cooperation into breaking Vanoni's empire. Leo is scared, but decides to help the police because he is promised protection. Because of his work, Vanoni falls, but in a confrontation with Ben, Vanoni's right hand man, he is shot, almost fatally."L'avocat' was conceived and directed by Cedric Anger. We are taken to see a criminal gang that seems to control everything in the area and the man who is in charge. The young lawyer, Vanoni believes, will be tempted by the riches that are thrown at him just as he is starting his professional life. When the criminal touch his life, and Eve's, he has no choice but to cooperate in bringing Vanoni down.Benoit Maginel makes a good impression as Leo. Gilbert Melki is the powerful Vanoni, the mafia boss, whom he down plays for an excellent result. Eric Caravaca is the police undercover. Aissa Maiga appears as Eve. Samir Guesmi is Ben, the right hand man. Barbet Schroeder is seen as the head of the law office.

Don't wait for anything awesome in this story about the rise and fall of a budding young lawyer involved with the mob. Nothing at all. I won't say that everything is predictable, but this topic has been seen a billion times before. And the ending too. The editing could remind us Brian De Palma's CARLITO'S WAY, but that's all. Benoit Magimel is although adequate in the crooked counselor character - But not so crooked after all, after he is aware of the criminal activities he has to deal with.Concerning Gilbert Melki, he is very good too in the big boss character.In resume, a good time waster, and forgettable too.