Satan accepted Kevil Lomax's soul...

Rating: 7/10 (23 February 2005)

American justice has always been at the heart of many American films. A lot of them have showed lawyers as main protagonists who defend victims with respect of justice. "The Devil's Advocate" (1997) which presents a new and worthy variation on the myth of Faust exploits an idea we have rarely seen on the screen: a lawyer ready to do anything to succeed, even to defend doubtful cases. Moreover, if the supernatural is an integral part of the whole, we can expect to watch a promising movie. So, here's the story: Keanu Reeves acts a young and ambitious lawyer, Kevin Lomax who can pride himself of not having lost a sole trial throughout his career. One day, he gets in touch with a prestigious law firm in New York run by the charismatic and mysterious John Milton (Al Pacino) who offers him a golden job doubled with a comfortable income. Of course, Lomax doesn't think twice before accepting and so he leaves his natal Florida with her bride Mary-Ann (Charlize Theron) to live in New York. After this, the young lawyer thinks he has reached the top but in the meantime, doubt gnaws away at him until he discovers terrible truths: he has defended criminals, his private life is broken and Milton's real identity will reveal itself before his eyes.
If I'm not totally satisfied with "the Devil's Advocate", it's because I think the outcome is largely telegraphed. Besides, even before seeing the movie, you can guess how it is going to end: the title and especially the cover speak volume about the conclusion: a benevolent Al Pacino taking Keanu Reeves under his wing. In another extent, if I look into the movie's references I realize that they are echoes of "Angel Heart" (1987) by Alan Parker and the story heavily borrows from "Rosemary's Baby" (1968) Roman Polanski's masterpiece. Indeed, Charlize Theron's attitude is strongly reminiscent of Mia Farrow's. And just look at the big and somewhat disturbing apartment in which she and Reeves settle. It resembles a lot to the one in "Rosemary...". But on the other hand, "the Devil's Advocate" will influence a few forthcoming movies like "End of Days" (1999).
In spite of all, I don't intend to slag "the Devil's Advocate" off. The director Taylor Hackford well fulfilled his pledges and delivers, here a well-crafted thriller in spite of the foreseeable nature that clutters it up. As for the scriptwriters, they don't do properly one of their main jobs which is to write a suspenseful script as much as possible. There are also a few holes and one can judge the last images as a little incoherent with the rest of the story. But the authors make up for it by favoring a slow but sure rise of anxiety through Reeves' descent into hell marked out by Theron's progressive madness. And by delaying as much as possible the final revelation, they hold the viewer breathless all the time of the movie. And concerning the dialogs, let's hail some well found cues (I am an humanist!).
Among the other qualities we can attribute to Hackford's movie: a good use of secondary characters like Lomax's mother. We could expect her to occupy a decorative part and however her role is indispensable to light and to understand certain points of the story. In another extent, "the Devil's Advocate" is supported by a very careful photography which confers the movie a strong visual appeal, notably through New York's buildings and the interior of Milton's law firm as big as the devastating corruption which reigns in them. To a second degree, Hackford's movie can be read as a biting denunciation of the American judicial system's abuses and injustices. This critic is directed at unscrupulous lawyers carried away by success and money and ready to defend accused people guilty of a more or less serious offense who are eventually acquitted. In this way, Hackford's bitter critic kicks the bull's eye and at the end of the movie, there's a quite relevant morals which aims a positive objective.
At last, about the cast, there's nothing to say about Al Pacino, the role of Satan suits him well and concerning Keanu Reeves, it is his second best performance to date after "Matrix" (1999). So, "the Devil's Advocate" (1997) isn't free from shortcomings but the above-mentioned positive aspects are eloquent to make you want to watch this film.