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

1 win & 5 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:

The newest attorney at the world's most powerful law firm has never lost a case. But he's about to lose his soul.

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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

The flamenco guitarist is Spanish musician Tomatito.

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Goofs

When Kevin asks the limo driver where Mary Ann went, we hear the driver say: "The Church of Heavenly Hope", but his mouth says something different.

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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 World Trade Center towers were taken out of the background of several shots in a version made for use on U.S. commercial TV after September 11, 2001.

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Connections

Referenced in The Sopranos: The Legend of Tennessee Moltisanti (1999)

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Soundtracks

It Happened in Monterey
(1930)
Music by Mabel Wayne
Lyrics by Billy Rose
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

The Most Underrated Film of the '90s

The reviews for "The Devil's Advocate" were not too kind, to say the least. But what did the critics refuse to see in this? With movies nowadays being nothing but flashy, over-the-top, masturbatory, CG-fests, "The Devil's Advocate" holds up like osmium.

The cinematography is good because it's quite understated and that's a virtue in today's cinema. The acting, while containing pretty lame Southern accents, is still pretty good. Even from Keanu, dude.

Sorely forgotten in it's day, the script tells a very deep, original and interesting story, with lots of development, respect for the characters, delicate pacing, and a head-spinning ending. The movie is solely about the people and their struggles. Fear takes hold of the audience through the dialogue.

Think of "The Devil's Advocate" as Woody Allen trying his hand at a horror/thriller and succeeding. This movie never makes you jump, but it puts you in a general state of discomfort through it's atmosphere. As with all memorable supernatural dramas, this one handles its spectacle with discretion and grace.

Isn't that what we hope to see when we watch any movie? 10/10