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The Devil's Advocate
Movie Stats & Links |
Starring: |
Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Jeffry Jones,
Craig T. Nelson |
MPAA Rated: |
R |
Released By: |
Warner Bros. |
Web Site: |
www.wbmovies.com/DEVILS |
Kiddie Movie: |
Not unless your kid is the son of the Devil. |
Date Movie: |
Sure. |
Gratuitous Sex: |
A couple of scenes.
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Gratuitous
Violence: |
Yup. |
Action: |
Not really, mostly suspense.
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Laughs: |
Some chuckles during the Devil's ranting scene. |
Memorable
Scene: |
The Devil's ranting scene, explaining most of mankind. |
Memorable
Quote: |
Too many to mention. |
Directed By: |
Taylor Hackford |
Produced By: |
Arnon Milchan, Arnold Kopelson, Anne Kopelson |
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The Devil's Advocate
A Movie Review |
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"The Devil's Advocate." This movie almost
had it all. You had sex, nudity, quality kills, scary demon monsters,
good looking women, good looking men, an original story, and one of
the best ranting scenes in movie history. All that is was missing was
a quality car chase, and they left in about 5 minutes of film that
should have wound up on the cutting room floor. Dammit! For once I
want to see an ending, a good ending, and not drag a movie out just a
little bit further to ruin it for me. Now, I know these things might
be my opinions, but I thought the movie was about 5 minutes too long.
But we'll start at the beginning.
Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a lawyer, and a pretty damn good
one. His problem - he's stuck in this small Florida town and there
aren't too many cases that come up requiring the talents he
possesses. He's got an adorable wife, a loving mother, but in his
heart he wants more. John Milton (Al Pacino) heads a Manhattan law
firm, and is the Devil. His problem, well, it's always been the
Devil's problem, having evil win over good. Now, I won't spoil one
slight surprise, but eventually Kevin finds himself recruited by John
to work in the city of evil - New York City. Kevin has this great
ability to pick any jury to acquit any bad guy, and seems to be
getting over his moral problem of letting the bad guys get acquitted
even though he knows they are guilty.
Now, working for the Devil does have some privileges, but not
without its price. First off, there is poor Mary Ann Lomax, Kevin's
wife, played by Charlize Theron. She is definitely not ready for the
life of the rich and famous, or the demonic and scary. Nope, she
wants hubby to always be by her side, and the material possessions
that go along with her husband working for the Mighty Bad One just
aren't cutting it. So, what is the Devil to do but drive her insane.
It works - she ends up in the psych-ward at the hospital. Poor Mary
Ann - she should have never left the small town. Well, most of her
problem is caused by her ever hungry for more husband. He sees there
is trouble in his marriage, but rather than jump off the court wagon,
he opts to finish his high-profile murder case he is on. His mother
comes to town to try and help, but by now it's too late. Kevin has
risen through the ranks quickly, is easily manipulated by Milton, but
eventually comes to realize the evil that is Milton. Here comes the
confrontation.
So, Kevin marches to El Diablo Milton's penthouse, convinced old
John is responsible for his wife's going crazy. What to do? Let's try
and shoot him. Yep, Kevin pulls out a gun, unloads it into John, and
well, let's just say that bullets don't do much against his Almighty
Badness. Thus begins one of the best ranting scenes I have ever
witnessed. Milton begins to tell Kevin his fate, how things came to
be, and how things are supposed to become, but only with Kevin's
help. The Devil explains choices people make, the sense of humor of
God, the real reasons lawyers exist, and how through the eons the
battle between good and evil raged on. And for a minute, it looks as
if Kevin is buying it, is ready to turn to the dark side, except I
think it's the Devil's own fault Kevin gets a conscience - the Devil
wouldn't shut up.
The Devil needs Kevin to continue his work, and with Kevin's help,
God won't stand a chance. Kevin is almost ready to take that step,
and then he finally gets that conscience he has so willfully shed in
the past. He has a choice - take his life and ruin the Devil's plan,
run away (although the Devil would probably be able to find him and
make his life more miserable than it already is), or join the bad
team. Well, in a happy for God but bad for Kevin ending, Kevin blows
his brains out and the Devil spirals to the pit of damnation. I hear
all of you groaning now, how I just ruined the ending. Well, I
didn't, because that's not the end. Nope, I'll let you shell out your
seven bucks and see the last five minutes of what I thought ruined
this mighty fine film.
Al Pacino is utterly terrific in his role as the Almighty Bad One.
He has the fiendish grin, the anger, the cunning, and the
manipulative attitude to pull off the role as the Devil playing a
lawyer perfectly. Keanu Reeves isn't bad either, in probably one of
his better acting style roles. He is easily manipulated into wanting
more and not seeing the catastrophes that are building around him.
This was definitely almost one of the best movies I've seen.
So, the rating. After Keanu blew his brains out and the Devil
spiraled back to the pits of hell, I was ready to give this film five
stars, especially after Pacino's performance. I was happy for
mankind, sad for Keanu, and ready to get out of my seat pleased that
Hollywood didn't ruin a really good movie. But then, it didn't end.
"Noooooooo!" I screamed in the theater (well, maybe not screamed, but
I groaned loudly). I won't ruin it, but I didn't like it, and five
minutes of film cost this movie a star. That gives "The Devil's
Advocate" 4 OUT OF 5 stars. I can't wait for the video so I can stop
this movie where I think it should have ended - Keanu in a pool of
blood on the floor.
That's it for this one! I'm The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!! |