- Starring
- Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron
- Director
- Taylor Hackford
- Rating
- R
- Genre
- Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Release date
- October 17, 1997
- Where to watch
- Vudu (rent or buy), Amazon Prime (rent or buy)
Overall Score
Rating Overview
Rating Summary
The Devil’s Advocate is a thought-provoking and intense film that explores the nature of good and evil. The film stars Keanu Reeves as a young and ambitious lawyer, Kevin Lomax, who is recruited by a prestigious law firm run by the charismatic and mysterious John Milton, played by Al Pacino. The film follows Lomax’s journey as he becomes increasingly involved in the firm’s high-profile and controversial cases and starts to question the nature of morality and the true intentions of his enigmatic boss.
The Devil’s Advocate
The acting in this film is top-notch, with Pacino delivering a truly mesmerizing performance as the devil himself. He is able to convey a sense of both charm and menace, making him a truly formidable and terrifying villain. Reeves, on the other hand, gives a solid performance as Lomax, but his southern accent, which is supposed to be from the state of Florida, is questionable and at times distracting. However, he does a good job at portraying the gradual descent of his character into moral ambiguity and uncertainty.
The film’s story is engaging and well-written, with a number of twists and turns that keep the audience guessing until the very end. The themes of good and evil, the nature of power and the cost of ambition are all explored in a nuanced and complex way. The film also delves into the idea of free will and the possibility of predestination and how it relates to the main character’s actions and decisions.
The cinematography is also noteworthy, with the film making use of a number of visually striking and symbolic images to convey its themes. The special effects used to depict the supernatural elements of the story are also well-done and add to the overall atmosphere of the film. However, it’s worth noting that some of the plot elements and the overall tone of the film can be a little over-the-top and may not appeal to everyone.
Overall, The Devil’s Advocate is a thought-provoking and intense film that is sure to leave audiences questioning the nature of good and evil and the choices they make in life. It features strong performances, a well-written story and visually striking cinematography that make it a must-see for fans of the genre. While Keanu Reeves’s southern accent may be questionable and the film’s over-the-top elements may not appeal to everyone, it doesn’t take away from the overall impact of the film and the impactful performance by Al Pacino.
James Carrick
James Carrick is a passionate film enthusiast with a degree in theater and philosophy. James approaches dramatic criticism from a philosophic foundation grounded in aesthetics and ethics, offering insight and analysis that reveals layers of cinematic narrative with a touch of irreverence and a dash of snark.
One comment
Derek Tombrello
February 9, 2024 at 8:32 pm
This and (the original) ‘the Stand’ are my two all-time favorite movies ever!