There are some films that can leave me staring at a blank screen long after the film’s finished, deep in thought. Sad, I know, but true. The Devil’s Advocate was one of them.
I cannot tell you how much it pleased me to see Keanu Reeves back on form. The two films I had seen of his previous to this (’A walk in the clouds’ and ’chain reaction’) had really not done him justice. This one did.
Although I did want to see this film, I didn’t go out of my way to. It had been recommended by several people, but was not exactly critically acclaimed. Although I now know it deserved to be.
Reeves stars as Kevin Lomax, an ambitious lawyer for a small firm, who’s 64-0 case record lands him a job with an elite New York firm. However, he soon realizes that everything is not what it seems and begins to wonder about the true intentions of his boss (Al Pacino). And the pressure really mounts when he is presented with his first case, an important businessman accused of murder. But he is about to discover the truth...
It is obvious throughout that there is likely to be a big twist towards the end. However, the double-twist that does occur is breathtaking, and almost completely unforseeable.
Reeves is excellent as the charismatic lawyer, while Pacino puts on an absolutely stunning performance as his boss, somehow giving the film it’s evil yet powerful atmosphere. In fact I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of his best yet. Charlize Theron is also impressive as Lomax’s troubled wife, battling for her sanity.
The film’s plot is oustanding, based around the idea of temptation, with an obvious good/evil theme always going on in the background. While a part of the twist is gradually made obvious, it is not until the end you realize what the film has been building towards all along. Although the opening few scenes are probably the most significant in the film.
There are proportionally few films I will actually strongly recommend to people, but this is one of them. With camera work and plot twists reminiscent of Hitchcock, this is definitely a film worth staying in to watch. Don’t miss it.