Small-town southern attorney Kevin Lomax is hired by a New York law firm, a move that completely uproots he and his wife. Soon, he discovers that the head of his firm may be the prince of darkness, Satan himself. (Insert your lawyer joke here.)
Also known as: Diabolos (Japanese title)
Subgenres: religion, psychological
Director: Taylor Hackford
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino
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I can feel Rosemary's Baby all over this one. Satan as a lawyer? Great idea. The antichrist (or whatever) a genetic goal? Cool. the perversion of innocence and the destruction of a good person? Always good for drama. The problem with The Devil's Advocate is that there isn't enough of all of them. I can appreciate the film's decision to use individual court cases as symbols of Lomax's degredation, but the film gets bogged down in them. Give me more of Al Pacino, who turns in a fiery (pun intended) performance. Give me more of Keanu Reeves (never thought that phrase would emerge from my fingers), who acts well as Pacino's foil. Give me more long speeches about the eternal battle between good and evil. Maybe some more of Charlize Theron, too. But don't give me another lawyer movie. (Sep 22, 1999) | ||||||
Al Pacino's character, John Milton, was named for the author of Paradise Lost.
Based on the book by Andrew Neiderman.
