The Devil's Advocate(1997)- User Reviews

I simply don't know why this film is so under appreciated, and was knocked by the professional critics. Perhaps they just can't deal with the idea of awarding plaudits to a film that stars THE real devil. And they likely will accuse him of acting like the Pacino-out-of-control character ala 'And Justice For All"." But if any character WOULD be out of control, wouldn't Beelzebub be the likeliest choice? Knowing that Pacino is a method actor, one wonders who he patterned himself after to achieve what I consider to be a devastating and believable version of the devil--the best I've ever seen on film. His rage when his long developed plan to sire a child from the union of two of his half children is palpably felt. OK, that's a scene we knew Pacino could play. But how about the subtlety of his tiny snake-tongue roll when he is luxuriating in his lechery? Spot on as far as I'm concerned. I also love his soliliqy about the duplicity of God's proscriptions for humans. Who else could have delivered the line "I'm a fan of man" with such believable passion? Meanwhile Keanu Rives, who has been in far too many mediocre movies in which he has poorly acted, is at his best here. Playing a sleazy, self-serving, prideful lawyer turns out to be the role of his life. Casting agents take note. And then Charlize Theron is brilliant as she transforms from a bubbly babe who adores her husband into a frustrated wife in her newfound opulence and then ultimately a completely broken woman who appears to have gone insane, ultimately committing suicide. That performance was Oscar worthy. The actors playing minor characters deliver the goods in their supportive roles. Visually, the closing scene in its entirety is savage yet arresting. How not to like the devil's wall sculpture of life size nude humans who eerily and suddenly begin to morph and move. That's a devil's trick for sure. The entire movie is a battle royale between the powerful forces of darkness and what remains of humankind's presence in the light. Rather than the anticipated 'good triumphs over evil' ending, we learn that the devil's got the hero in yet another temptation, even more powerful than the one which propelled this version of his story. Not surprisingly, the devil--who as you may recall was ultimately guilty due to his pride--tells the audience "Pride: my favorite sin." Keanu's now prideful lawyer has fallen like ripe fruit onto the devil's ground. Ignore the critics--this is a must see film.