"Vanity is definitely my favorite sin..."

THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (R) 

Reviewed October 17, 1997 - Check out The Devil's Advocate web site.

In The Devil's Advocate, Keanu Reeves plays Kevin Lomax, a hotshot attorney lured to New York by John Milton (Al Pacino).  Showered with money, prestige, and all the other trappings of success, Lomax moves himself and his wife Mary Ann (Charlize Theron) from a small town in Florida to "The Big Apple."  So, 1). Kevin is a lawyer, and 2). he lives in New York.  How much worse can it get?  Well, how about 3). the man he works for, John Milton, is actually the Devil incarnate.

Yes folks, Pacino's Milton is not only the senior partner at his law firm, he is also the Devil himself, and that's just the first of many decadent twists in The Devil's Advocate.  With beautiful cinematography, rich set designs, witty dialog, and a wonderfully brazen screenplay, The Devil's Advocate is a film that screams for attention.  Forget subtlety and leave your imagination at home, The Devil's Advocate throws drama, sex, and violence your way at full force and with no remorse.  If you're easily offended, consider yourself warned, but if you're up for a good dose of "evil" as delivered by Pacino, then get ready to be entertained.  With a performance that definitely says "power", Pacino makes for a wonderfully convincing Satan, managing to be simultaneously shocking, funny, and thought-provoking all in one breath.  Reeves, for his part, delivers perhaps the best dramatic performance of his career, keeping us on his side as he struggles with his own beliefs, desires, and loyalties.  Finally, complements should go to Charlize Theron for her performance as Lomax's troubled wife.  What these performances bring to an already strong screenplay make for a very fast 2:18 movie run time, and with just enough surprises to keep you on your toes, it's definitely one to see.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

rumrum4@yahoo.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie is so close to reality and it is one of the most great movies that I've ever seen. I'm wondering how could a movie like this not to be nominated for the Academy Award where as a rubish movie like "Leaving Las Vegas" with nothing to get from it except someone drank himself to death and he did it eventually!!!!!, what is the point behind that?" (7/26/01)

linna@hotmail.co.il gives this movie  stars: "in this movie we meet the devil in one of his most attractives apearance. there is no douth that evil is far more facinet than good & who's better for this roll than Al Pacino? i would like however to correct that the devil is always steral." (6/6/01)

kernx@cs.com gives this movie  stars: "good good movie! never slows down. one twist after another. serious, scary, and humorous all in one. another look at good and evil. pacino makes you like him and he's playing ther devil!!" (10/28/00)

mellou@ukonline.co.uk gives this movie  stars: "This is one of the best movies ever produced. The only concern I have is how true it is to reality! Well I hope I am not around to find out!!!" (5/9/00)

jessfrogy@prodigy.net gives this movie  stars: "this movie was really good it was strange but in a good way it nhad so many changes it kept u excited it rocked" (8/19/99)

Vaughan Grubb gives this movie  stars: "An excelent movie that plays with your mind. Al Pacino is superb." (8/4/99)

onikageka@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "This is a great existential piece set in modern day, makes the stranger look like a wimp." (1/25/99)

shock-zilla@webtv.net gives this movie  stars: "This movie was the best movie!horror,drama,and sex,combine into a thck story abuot temptation.Al gives a scare as satan,Keanu acts!CHARLIZE THERON STEALS THE SHOW AS THE "DOWN HOME SOFTY"clearly the best movie of 1997!!but the est horror ovie of all time!!!!" (1/11/99)

danielbein@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars. (11/28/98)

scooterja@webtv.com gives this movie  stars: "I think this movie plays a little too close to the plot line of The Firm. I'm not saying it's a bad movie, but it could be a little more origional." (11/28/98)

Megan gives this movie  stars: "I think this is the best movie ever! Excellent, errie plot with GREAT acting. Even Keanu did good, but Al Pachino is still #1!!!!" (11/22/98)

zaika21@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "This movie was great it is defenetly best movie for last 2 years. Al Pacino was great as a Devil was magnificent. Ending of this movie was just perfect no less no more just is. I love it. Titanic is nothing in comparison to Devil's Advocate." (10/8/98)

buddy_ii@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "Al Pacino was great....but Keanu Reeves was the one who made the movies a total solid success !!! Well, he's certainly a FABULOUS actor with a great butt.......ruf!!ruf!!" (9/27/98)

the_finder@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "This was the greatest movie of all time. Al pachino displayed excellence as alway's.Keanu didn't do a half bad job either." (9/22/98)

pimpmaster@technologist.com gives this movie  stars: "I like the babe who cums in the end and takes off her clothes. she is one hell of a if you know her name please send it to me and if u have any of her pix send em as well thankx." (9/4/98)

TheJaseMan@aol.com gives this movie  stars: "Excellent movie overall. Its intensely powerful finale is hardly visible from it lighthearted beginning; however, this finale is not unaccompanied by cleverly structured plot that steadily builds throughout the movie. This movie's theme captures the very essense of the degrading social ethics and overrated success of today's rat-race society. All too true, this movie brings to the surface what we mundane humans live in our day to day routine, however in many a different form. In terms of performances, Pacino emerges as the victor in his brilliantly played human-form of the devil who floors his audience with his talent and envigorating character. However, Charlize Theron is caught trying to steal the show with her performance as well. Displaying her ability to appear as a good natured, fun-loving country girl all the way to a woman fighting to preserve her character in a corrupt society, Theron easily outplays the featured Keanu Reeves. Theron amply shows to the audience the progression of her character as it slowly breaks due to the evils of the Manhattan society. In contrast, Keanu Reeves plays a standard protagonist that shows little amplitude other than an inconsistent southern accent. Special effects are well done and nearly seamless throughout the movie with a fireworks display at the end." (7/22/98)

ddigirol@hcd.ca.gov gives this movie  stars: "Saw it twice and enjoyed the second viewing even more than the first. Pacino was excellent -- and we thought only Jack Nicholson could play the devil -- no monopoly on that! Devil's Advocate is believable and realistic; and one doesn't have to live in New York City to come to that conclusion." (6/30/98)

apples@strawberrywin.com gives this movie  stars: "The movie WAS great, but I did enjoy the book alot more. I read the book first, and I didn't really like the way Hollywood played it.But ignoring the book, it was a great movie." (1/5/98)

Anonymous entry gives this movie  stars: "great film for those who like unpredictability. pacino played his role to near perfection as milton. keanu on the other hand is still unable to convince the audience that he can do more than the role he played in bill and ted's. charlize theron is beautiful and does a great job of portraying the forever loving southern gal. overall a great flick that reminds us that we are constantly being tried." (11/17/97)

gailwolfe@eln.net gives this movie  stars: "This was an outstanding movie with great acting, and a great plot. Pacino is the master at what he does, and he doesn't fail here. Also, Charlize Theron is the most beautiful Actress I have seen in a long time. excellent film." (11/14/97)

Sara M. gives this movie  stars: "Al Pacino was great. This was definiately the best movie that I have seen in a long time." (11/14/97)

Mike B. gives this movie  stars: "I thought the movie was great.  Al Pacino does a superb job as always.  I've seen it twice.  And I can't wait to see it again." (11/13/97)

Anonymous entry of  stars: "This movie was really different, not at all what I expected." (11/11/97)