A young hotshot attorney takes a job in a high-powered city law firm only to discover that his good fortune in court is somehow related to a deal with his boss alter ego the devil. Meanwhile at home his beautiful wife reminds him all is not well in paradise. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: Al Pacino Charlize Theron Run time: 144 minutes Rating: R Director: Taylor Hackford
Too old for Hamlet and too young for Lear--what's an ambitious actor to do? Play the Devil, of course. Jack Nicholson did it in The Witches of Eastwick; Robert De Niro did it in Angel Heart (as Louis Cyphre--get it?). In The Devil's Advocate Al Pacino takes his turn as the great Satan, and clearly relishes his chance to raise hell. He's a New York lawyer, of course, by the name of John Milton, who recruits a hotshot young Florida attorney (Keanu Reeves) to his firm and seduces him with tempting offers of power, sex, and money. Think of the story as a twist on John Grisham's The Firm, with the corporate evil made even more explicit. Reeves is wooden, and therefore doesn't seem to have much of a soul to lose, but he's really just our excuse to meet the devil. Pacino's the main attraction, gleefully showing off his--and the Antichrist's--chops at perpetrating menace and mayhem. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Against All Odds, Dolores Claiborne), who provides alternate-track commentary for the movie itself, plus a dozen deleted scenes. Also note: due to a settlement with artist Frederick Hart over the movie's use of a sculpture resembling his Ex Nihilo in Washington's National Cathedral, future releases of the film will be altered. --Jim Emerson
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Paradise Lost (Three-and-a-half-Stars):
Did anyone notice that the Satan's name in this entertaining-but-flawed flick is Milton, and that the marble reliefs which come to tantalizing life on Al Pacino's wall also allude to the great English poet's masterpiece? I feel that "Devil's Advocate" has some good material, including touches of humor, some stunning cinematographic effects, and the performances by Ms. Theron and Al Pacino, who chews the scenery with such devilish panache that he dominates Keanu Reeves (but perhaps that is the point).... more info
Devil's Advocate:
How can anything with Pacino be bad? Captured my attention and kept me interested. Could watch it over and over again.
A collection of wild moments:
Now this is a popcorn movie! Where else can you see a virtual clearinghouse of prestigious actors, engaged in ultimate camp, with real elements of horror at work. Al Pacino literally gnaws at the screen, Keanu is consistently convincing, while Connie Nielsen is just insanely attractive, off-the-charts hot. Plus a cameo by Caprice Benedetti and an interesting, compelling and creepy role for Craig Nelson. Some of the devilish sentiments are truly wild, plus there's plenty of menace and mounting horror. It's a... more info
Horrible!:
Yes, this is a horrible movie! It starts out in realism, pretty much like THE FIRM begins and then degenerates into the most collosally absurd fantasy I have ever seen! It makes no sense whatsoever, and to hear Al Pachino sound off the Devil's "lofty" harangue against God was tediously long and super nauseating. And the ending? Forget it! reductio ad absurdum. Save your money and pass this one by--FAST!!! Unless you love being tortured by a devil-may-not-care story.
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