"DEVIL ADVOCATE"
At a time when we are being bombarded by movies liked "Scream", Scream 2" and "I know what you did last summer", it is truly a great day when Hollywood (of all places) releases a film with such originality. When I speak of originality, I am not saying that "The Devil's Advocate" is an original storyline, no there have been a ton of movies that deal with theme of the Devil trying to entice people into his servitude (i.e. Omen and all it's sequels, Rosemary's Baby, The Devil's Rain, etc). But this movie is far more intelligent than the traditional hocus pocus that dots the landscape of these types of films.
Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), a ruthless Southern lawyer, has just masterfully defended a known child molester at the same time keeping alive his unbeaten streak in court. His tenacity hasn't gone unnoticed and he is invited to help the law firm of Milton, Chadwick, Waters select a jury. Neglecting the warning of his mother, Lomax and his lovely wife (Charlize Theron) head off to Babylon, I mean… New York City.
One thing leads to another and Lomax is invited to join the firm. He seems to be on the fast track to the top. His wife starts to notice strange things are afoot at the Circle K.... (wooh, wrong movie) the firm. Kevin begins to loss all connections with the real world. The only thing he is focusing on is his case (a O.J. Simpson type) while continuing to neglect his beautiful wife, whose already beginning to lose it. And now it seems she's drawing the attention of the Dark Lord himself.
This movie is probably the best of 1997. The end sequence is fantastic. Pacino's monologue about the difference between God and himself (aka Satan) is very intellectually stimulating. I know, I know, I am probably going to hell, but oh well. The freshness and originality of this film lies in it's vision. Al Pacino, who is one of all-time favorite actors, did an outstanding job in his modern interpretation of the Devil. On the other hand Keanu Reeves performance in this film was adequate, but far from spectacular. He will always be Ted "Theodore" Logan to me. Also, Taylor Hackford, the director of another of my favorite movies "Blood in, Blood out" (and no it is not a horror film), really did a wonderful job in capturing the atmosphere of this film. Hopefully, both Pacino and Hackford will do something else in the genre down the road, but Keanu...please stay on the beach. If you want to see a great movie, check this one out.
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05/14/05 02:32 AM
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