Since today we're posting DVD reviews for both Al Pacino and horror movies (as part of our October 'FREAKY FRIDAYS' here on PSXNATION), why not combine both? Enter 1997's "The Devil's Advocate," an adult black comedy in which Pacino's gift for overacting and chewing scenery are effectively channeled by director Taylor Hackford ("An Officer and a Gentleman," "Blood In, Blood Out," etc.) into an outrageous satire that pokes fun at authority figures as well as the legal profession. A box office disappointment at the time of its release, "The Devil's Advocate" found its audience on home video and pay cable airings in which audiences discovered what only few people saw in theaters. That this is one wicked and seriously disturbed (but in a good, clever way) black comedy that allows Pacino a chance to do what audiences want to see the man do: be Pacino to the umpteenth degree and then some.
Al plays John Milton, head of a prestigious law firm in New York City that pursues the services a young hotshot lawyer from Florida that has never lost a case. When we first meet this young attorney, Kevin Lomax ("The Matrix's" Keanu Reeves), we see him use all his charm and lawyerly skills to win freedom for a client that is clearly guilty of sexually attacking an underage girl. Kevin is clearly more interested in winning at any cost than anything else except maybe his young hot wife Mary Ann ("The Italian Job's" Charlize Theron). Kevin's mother, as God-fearing and church-going a nice person as can be, is opposed to his son moving to New York and being subjected to the sinful temptations that go on there (uhh?). Initially reluctant, the Lomax's eventually move to the Big Apple where the demands of Kevin's job inevitably lead to friction in the young couple's lives. It doesn't help that Mr. Milton seems to take a keen interest in Kevin's rapidly rising career, and is constantly tempting to join his extravagant parties and seductive group of female companions.
And why shouldn't John Milton be interested in Kevin? The latter is, after all, the son of the former and has had a lucky streak of judicious victories in no small part because John Milton seems to have his fingers in everything bad that happen around the world. He is, after all, the one and only bad guy that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of men, women and children alike. Yep, he's Michael Eisner! Well, not really, but he's the closest thing to Mr. Eisner here on Earth: Satan his own self! For better or for worse Warner Bros. chose to advertise heavily in "The Devil's Advocate's" theatrical run the movie's big secret, thus depriving its audience from a chance to be surprised by how Kevin gradually learns what the viewers already know. Most movies that are structured to be thrillers with plot twists and/or surprises would suffer from having the rug pulled from under their narrative. It's a testament to the coolness of the premise and the tongue-in-cheek casting of actors in pivotal roles (it doesn't get weirder than accused child porn lover Jeffrey Jones as the head of finance for Pacino's law firm) that "The Devil's Advocate" remains amusing and thoroughly engrossing despite the audience being fully aware of what's coming a mile away. Even an unnecessary subplot involving a rich killer that tries to get away with murdering his family (skillfully played by Craig T. Nelson as an O.J. Simpson-type SOB) eventually surfaces in the movie's climax as a pivotal moment in Kevin's eventual recognition of a truth he can't (and/or won't) even bring himself to admit.
Make no mistake about it though, this is yet another cinematic vehicle custom-made for Pacino to let his mannerisms, yells and acting chops go on parade for an eager audience to watch. The last 30 minutes or so of the movie, when Kevin finally confronts his father about the events that led up to that moment, are equal parts freak show, black comedy, social commentary and dead-on satire that make the whole thing seem like it was worth sitting through. And who ever knew Keanu Reeves had the brains to pull that last scene off in front of his father while they're both atop John Milton's skyscraper? No, seriously, weren't you shocked when you saw an actual brain come from within Keanu's noggin? I sure was, but then again I'm a very sick and disturbed person.
The Disc:
This Special Edition DVD of "The Devil's Advocate" features a decent Widescreen Anamorphic (2:35:1) Video Transfer that struggles from time to time to prevent the movie's monstrous running time (144 min.) from overwhelming its picture. Though occasionally grainy, most of the movie looks as slick and polished as the luxurious movie sets that were built to drive across impressively the decadent wealth in which John Milton and his law office cronies live. For a dialogue-driven dark comedy for grown-ups "The Devil's Advocate" features 'A' caliber English & French Dolby Digital 5.1 Soundtracks that mix the crystal-clear dialogue with impressive music and sound effect set pieces. When translucent devils fly around Keanu Reeves in the movie's next-to-last confrontation or the passage of time is implied in speeded-up photography the rear speakers kick-in creepy wind and echo effects that literally gave me the chills.
English, French and Spanish Subtitles are also included, along with a handful of decent extras that make "The Devil's Advocate" an even better home video experience. Director Taylor Hackford gets his own Commentary Track. He never lets more than a couple of minutes go by without sharing an interesting anecdote or spilling the beans about how certain scenes were shot, conceived and/or modified from their original version. Along with lots of Deleted Scenes (many interesting, most unnecessary for such an already-lengthy flick) and Production Notes (for the eight of you that'd rather read how a movie came together), Taylor's comments make repeated viewing of the flick an appealing proposition. The movie's ill-conceived Theatrical Trailer and a couple of TV Spots round-up the Special Edition goodies.
bottom line:
Like Brian DePalma's "Scarface," "The Devil's Advocate" chooses slick spectacle, wink-at-the-audience black humor and an over-the-top turn by its lead star (Pacino chews more scenery here than in "Scarface," for God's sake!) over coherent storytelling. Keanu Reeves' acting isn't half-bad, and the supporting cast (Charlize Theron has yet to live up to the promise shown in this, her breakthrough movie) is game all the way. Production design is also of the highest possible order. Director Taylor Hackford's best movie since his 1982 hit "An Office and a Gentleman," "The Devil's Advocate" benefits from being a Special Edition DVD. A fun commentary track and deleted scenes make an already enjoyable Hollywood satire an even more juicy purchase proposition.
By - J.M. Vargas
