The Devil's Advocate Movie

The Devil's Advocate
Rating:
Run Time: 144 min
MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1997
Directors: Taylor Hackford
Genre/Type: Horror
Supernatural Horror
Producers: Arnold Kopelson
Arnon Milchan
Anne Kopelson
Plot Synopsis by Bhob Stewart
Supernatural forces hover over the courtroom in this devilish drama adapted from the novel by Andrew Neiderman. Attorney Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) doesn't heed the Bible-based warnings of his mother (Judith Ivey), who views New York City as "the dwelling place of demons." Instead, he leaves Gainesville, Florida, with his wife Mary Ann (Charlize Theron) to put his legalistic skills to the test at a leading Manhattan law firm run by John Milton (Al Pacino). It all goes smoothly -- with Milton urging them to stay, putting Kevin on a $400-per-hour salary, and moving the couple into a luxurious apartment in his own building on Fifth Avenue -- where Mary Ann falls under the influence of neighbor Jackie (Tamara Tunie). After Kevin defends a weird animal sacrificer (Delroy Lindo, uncredited), he moves up to an important case with an apparent murderer, real-estate tycoon Alexander Cullen (Craig T. Nelson). Ignored by Kevin, the troubled Mary Ann has some disturbing experiences, verging on the occult, while Kevin, at work, becomes attracted to redhead Christabella (Connie Neilsen). Dazzled by his entrance into paradise, Kevin doesn't grasp who handed him this Big-Apple success. Could it be...Satan? The film features demonic creatures by Rick Baker. Cameos (Senator Alfonse D'Amato, Don King, others) add to the ambiance of ambition and power in the canyons of Manhattan.

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In the Roman Catholic church, when they are considering whether to name a deceased person as a saint, it is the responsibility of the "Devil's Advocate" to present a case against elevating them to sainthood. This person always pre...
A Devil's Advocate is a person who thinks of everything that could go wrong. Being aware of everything that can go wrong can prepare you to avoid such problems...
･ 1 In the midst of a discussion, if everyone is in agreement and no one has taken the opposing view, important... ･ 2 Listen to all the reasons or proposals that are offered in favor of the decision that is about to be... ･ 3 Be prepared f...
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Cast

Actors Character Born
Keanu Reeves Kevin Lomax Sep 2, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon
Al Pacino John Milton Apr 25, 1940 in New York City, NY
Charlize Theron Mary Ann Lomax Aug 7, 1975 in Benoni, South Africa
Jeffrey Jones Eddie Barzoon Sep 28, 1947 in Buffalo, NY
Judith Ivey Mrs. Lomax Sep 4, 1951 in El Paso, TX
Monica Keena Alessandra Cullen May 25, 1979
Connie Nielsen Christabella Jul 3, 1965 in Elling, Frederikshavn, Denmark
Craig T. Nelson Alexander Cullen Apr 4, 1946 in Spokane, WA
Tamara Tunie Jackie Heath Mar 14, 1959 in Homestead, PA
Ruben Santiago-Hudson Leamon Heath
Debra Monk Pam Garrety Feb 27, 1949 in Middletown, OH
Vyto Ruginis Weaver
Laura Harrington Melissa Black
Pamela Gray Diana Barzoon
Heather Matarazzo Barbara
Delroy Lindo Santeria Practitioner Nov 18, 1952
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Back to the topReview

Review by Adam Goldberg
Part John Grisham thriller and part Rosemary's Baby, Devil's Advocate is a sharp and compelling film that comes to life thanks to an energetic performance from Al Pacino. While most fictional films concerning temptation and religion are often inane and unrealistic, the playfully slick script by Tony Gilroy and Jonathan Lemkin makes this particular outing both thought-provoking and engaging. Keanu Reeves may be dwarfed by Pacino's acting skill, but he gives an astonishingly decent performance. Reeves is the straight man of the narrative, and proves that he can handle roles that require him to deliver dialogue (as opposed to his dismal performances in A Walk in the Clouds and Much Ado About Nothing). The film explores themes like temptation, sexual depravity, and vanity, while never allowing special effects to become the main focus of the story, and the fantastical climax, set to the Frank Sinatra version of "It Happened in Monterey" is part camp, part thriller, and part soap opera. It is the jolting finale to a surreal and enticing film that takes chances and truly raises some hell.
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