The Devil's Advocate (1997)

An exceptionally adept Florida lawyer is offered a job at a high-end New York City law firm with a high-end boss - the biggest opportunity of his career to date.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

Andrew Neiderman (novel), Jonathan Lemkin (screenplay)

Stars:

Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keanu Reeves	...	Kevin Lomax
Al Pacino	...	John Milton
Charlize Theron	...	Mary Ann Lomax
Jeffrey Jones	...	Eddie Barzoon
Judith Ivey	...	Mrs. Alice Lomax
Connie Nielsen	...	Christabella Andreoli
Craig T. Nelson	...	Alexander Cullen
Tamara Tunie	...	Mrs. Jackie Heath
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Leamon Heath
Debra Monk	...	Pam Garrety
Vyto Ruginis	...	Mitch Weaver - Justice Department
Laura Harrington	...	Melissa Black
Pamela Gray	...	Mrs. Diana Barzoon
George Wyner	...	Meisel
Chris Bauer	...	Lloyd Gettys (as Christopher Bauer)

Storyline

Kevin Lomax, a ruthless young Florida attorney that never lost a case, is recruited by the most powerful law firm in the world. In spite of his mother's disagreement, which compares New York City to Babylon, he accepts the offer and the money that comes along. But soon, his wife starts feeling homesick as she witnesses devilish apparitions. However, Kevin is sinking in his new cases and pays less and less attention to his wife. His boss and mentor, John Milton, seems to always know how to overcome every problem and that just freaks Kevin right off.

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Plot Keywords:

deal with the devil | female full frontal nudity | supernatural power | lawyer | female pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

Evil has its winning ways.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English German Italian Mandarin Spanish

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Devil's Advocate

Filming Locations:

50th Floor, Continental Tower, Continental Plaza, Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$57,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,170,536, 19 October 1997

Gross USA:

$60,944,660

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$152,944,660

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Regency Enterprises, Kopelson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

144 min 136 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Connie Nielsen (Christabella), and Tamara Tunie (Mrs. Jackie Heath) both went on to star in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999). Nielsen as detective Danielle "Dani" Beck (2006), and Tunie as Dr. Melinda Warner (2000-2015).

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Goofs

In the Boxing Match scene "Caesar's Palace" markers can be seen in the corners of the ring when it was supposed to have taken place in Madison Square Garden.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Florida Prosecutor: Go on, Barbara.
Barbara: We go back to our homeroom for dismissal. Unless you have a pass for sports or somethin'.
Florida Prosecutor: And is that what you did on the day in question?
Barbara: No. Mr. Gettys asked me to stay after class.

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Alternate Versions

The German TV version is cut for violence. The sex scene is shorter, Eddie Barzoon's death isn't very violent anymore and Kevin Lomax's suicide is cut.

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: The Apple (2014)

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Soundtracks

Moment to Moment
(1965)
Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Performed by Michael Lang
Courtesy of Varèse Sarabande Records, Inc.

User Reviews

this is how you make a thriller

Stylish, sexy, suspenseful thriller stars Reeves as an accomplished southern lawyer who's never been beaten; he travels to New York City to take a job with powerful legal mogul Pacino, but his once ideal life is soon turned upside down as he's plunged into a surreal, demonic world of lust, temptation, and vanity. Slick writing, direction, and an array of startling scenes, breathtaking effects, and dazzling performances make this an imaginative thriller quite unlike any other. Reeves gives one of his finest performances to date, aided immeasurably by a wild, wickedly over-the-top performance from Pacino and a first-rate supporting cast. Not for all tastes, but highly watchable indeed. ***½