Kind of disturbing actually

Rating: 7/10 (24 June 2020)

Al Pacino is charismatic as the Devil himself in this movie, in that fake plastered on charisma you get from salesmen sometimes, but with dark, deep dominating eyes. He comes of powerful, intelligent, extremely manipulative and slightly unhinged insane, you could actually believe he actually is the Devil. Keanu Reeves plays his role very well, being this talanted, charp and very cocky up and coming lawyer, that just can't put his own ego aside. And Charlize Theron perhaps has the hardest part and pulls it of without a sweat. I think it's actually that her peformens is so convincing, I actually became a bit emotionally disturbed by this movie, otherwise it wouldn't been nearly as effective.
Some beautiful shots of Manhattan, New York. This mighty metropolitan of a city, fits very well for what the message of the story is telling. And that the lawfirm, the story takes place within, is on the top floor of a skyscraper, looking out over the entire concrete jungle, really potrais what it's all about in a subtle way: power over others.
It's a story about morality; the battle within, doing what's good and right versus the allure of success, no matter the cost on everything else. "Money, that's the easy part." As Al Pacino character says in a scene between him and Keanu. Not the first movie with that kind of message, but still original in a way, usually Satan himself is not involved as a real character for example. The title of this picture, that it's both allegory and litteral, is actually a tiny bit genius. Pacino also has a great monolog in this film.
This movie could be labeled a thriller or a drama but I think it's actually a horror movie. The story starts of a bit slow in the beginning. And becomes more and more creepy as it moves along. A creepy slow burn horror movie, which is refreshing today, when most horror movies is about jump scares. It picks up way more towards the last act. But I actually didn't like this movies big finale that much or the ending. There comes a twist that I didn't really care for that much or felt necessary either.
Other then that, pretty good. Decent. It reminded me a lot of Rosemary's Baby actually. But Rosemary's Baby is better, but still I think this movie is very decent and it actually managed to disturb me, which I think was its meaning to do, so it succeed, an accomplishment for Taylor Hackford. Decent movie.