The Devil's Advocate

1997

2h 24m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

6.6K

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Drama

Mystery

Horror

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.

Directors

Taylor Hackford

Writers

Andrew Neiderman(novel by)

Tony Gilroy(screenplay by)

Jonathan Lemkin(screenplay by)

Stars

Keanu Reeves

Al Pacino

Charlize Theron

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Top cast

Kevin Lomax

John Milton

Mary Ann Lomax

Eddie Barzoon

Mrs. Lomax

Christabella

Alexander Cullen

Jackie Heath

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Leamon Heath

Pam Garrety

Weaver

Melissa Black

Diana Barzoon

Meisel

Gettys

Mrs. Gettys

Gettys' Son

Barbara

Directors

Taylor Hackford

Writers

Andrew Neiderman(novel by)

Tony Gilroy(screenplay by)

Jonathan Lemkin(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is... That's what "Kevin" (Keanu Reeves) must learn to appreciate after he is offered a dream job at a prestigious New York legal firm by "Milton" (Al Pacino). The potential wealth and the status of his new career path bring out the green-eyed monster in him and together with his reluctant wife "Mary-Ann" (Charlize Theron) they are soon living it up in their penthouse apartment with plenty of money but an increasingly dwindling amount of time together. She starts to cool on their arrangement and wants to return to Florida but pretty soon it's clear that "Kevin" is addicted - and not to her! Pacino is on good form here as it becomes clear just who his character is, and how adeptly he is pulling all the strings and manoeuvring his new charge into a position that might suggest that the clue is in the title! Now as a life-long lover of the baddie in films, I felt a bit let down by the ending. Faust it isn't - but, to be fair, it still goes as close as Hollywood will probably ever go in portraying a characterisation of the epitome of evil (and offering a wonderful critique on vanity being the downfall of mankind) that actually has a fighting chance of prevailing! Reeves is not the finest actor to grace our screens. Easy on the eye, certainly, but somehow he's just a bit too lightweight here. That might be because, however, Pacino is very much in his element and even though it can drag at times during the almost 2½ hour running time, it's a remarkably compelling ride that still holds up quite well.

Geronimo196715 May, 2023