Sabrina vs The Counselor

Sabrina

You know who Sabrina is the second she gets off the train, and David does not. His flirting is funny and a little cruel, because you know what he ignored for years.

The Counselor

The film opens with cocaine hidden in a sewage truck and driven across the border, so you see how the trade really works. Then the Counselor, who has never done a deal, stays calm even after Westray warns that Mexican cartels are merciless. You know more than he does, and every confident line feels dangerous.

Sabrina

At first Sabrina watches David from the dark, unseen. After Paris, the looks go the other way, and he stares at a woman he does not know. Who looks, and who is looked at, tells you how much power each person has.

The Counselor

Reiner tells the Counselor about the day Malkina climbed onto the hood of his yellow Ferrari while he watched from inside the car. You see her the way Reiner does, dazed and not in control of the moment. Looking is a form of power here, and she decides what he gets to see.

Sabrina

Sabrina returns from Paris in a sleek, adult look, and the change is the first thing anyone notices. Edith Head won the Oscar for costume design, though who designed Audrey Hepburn's outfits has long been disputed between Head and Hubert de Givenchy.

The Counselor

Janty Yates dressed the cast to announce who they are. Armani made the wardrobes for Michael Fassbender and Penélope Cruz, and Reiner wears loud pieces from Versace. Designer Paula Thomas gave Cameron Diaz's Malkina about 15 outfits and described her as someone who wants to be seen. Their clothes show money and ego before they say a word.