Vanities of the bonfires: a riveting film

Rating: 9/10 (2 November 2005)

Vanity fuels the clash between good and evil. The film is so superbly photographed, remarkably played and directed that you are easily sucked into the flammable issues and charged scenes, potential "bush fires", with your emotions taking control. Only after the film may you have the time to reflect. The young lawyer from Florida, Keenu Reeves, who is winning all his cases vainly thinks that he is in control of himself. His acceptance of a fabulously well paid legal job in New York where the world is so much brighter, richer, intriguing, challenging only fuels his vain belief in his legal superiority. The legal firm's boss, Al Pacino, mysteriously encourages Reeves to fly higher, to feel that he can be even stronger and go on winning. Lawyer Reeves beliefs, formed from his religious upbringing by his religious mother, are insidiously tested by Al Pacino. Is winning the only star to follow, what about losing? If God is for love and compassion, is the Devil's role, as advocated by Al Pacino, to inject vanity into intuition to power the business world to winning ever better results no matter whether the world thinks otherwise? A real dilemma for Americans, as its must-win role is corroding the international political world. The good Reeves is threatened by the need to make difficult choices. His falling for the temptations of mastering the situations opens the door to evil paths. His wife, victimized by devilish hallucinations and her doubts that love and compassion are strong enough to withstand the temptations showered on her husband by Al Pacino, increases the pressure on him. The hyper modern business interiors, the stunning shots of New York, the very beautiful women as diabolic temptations inject more fuel into the rising tensions. Serious questions begin to crackle and smolder. The powerful acting controls the potential fission. Reeves is drawn in to the bonfire, vainly believing that he can handle the conflicts and unexplained deaths that pummel him. But Al Pacino's role succumbs also to vanity! Al Pacino cannot either avoid the bonfire of evil ambitions. Brilliant last scenes justifiably disturb the mind. Masterfully convincing acting by Reeves, Charlize Theron his wife and Al Pacino with the beautiful photography make this film a must to see.