The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

The Devil’s Advocate (1997) is an American supernatural horror/thriller directed by Taylor Hackford.

Okay folks, here we go! I don’t really want to waste my time with this film. I saw it when I was a teenager and I wasn’t at all interested in films set mainly in a courtroom. These days, I give all the films I’ve seen and not liked a chance, especially if they’re considered masterpieces. But, although I’ll admit it’s a good film, I’ll still say that, for me, it’s just a pretty good film.

Indeed, I could say “Divine… Al Pacino has never been so good!” But it’s the same with Scent of a Woman. In fact, he’s still excellent. I can see all the effort that went into this film to make it as subtle and gripping as possible.

That said, I’d like to reiterate that: just because there are lots of pretty girls, breasts, naked bodies and lots of sex… doesn’t mean it’s a good film! Just because there’s blood (an accident, a slit throat) doesn’t mean it’s a good film.

Most of all, just because Keanu Reeves & Charlize Theron are there doesn’t mean it’s a good film. I’d even go so far as to say “on the contrary”: every other film with them sucks! Just because it’s or looks ultra-subtle doesn’t mean it’s necessarily intelligent. Just because you don’t understand everything doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece.

Actually, no, I don’t love this film. It’s quite frightening at times. The scene with the ovaries, I found horrible. I clearly wouldn’t buy this film for my mega collection, it doesn’t do my mental health any good! A story that may seem weak, as a lawyer who defends the worst scumbags, but seems to have a conscience, but by moving to New York, city of evil, he forsakes his wife a bit, as he finds plenty of other pretty women… Bof!

And Keanu is the kind of actor where I keep asking myself “Is he playing well or not???” With my favourite actors, I don’t have to ask myself that question all the time. They mesmerise me and that’s that. I admire them from the beginning to the end of the film. I don’t say to myself, “That was a good performance. There, a bit less. Here he did well, but here he didn’t do well at all!

Is this film “Unpretentious”? I’d say absolutely not! He knew it would be a success. That wasn’t surprising. Al Pacino’s portrayal of Beelzebub is the only thing really worth seeing in this film. The rest is average at best, I’ll say. All in all, it was good, but nothing more. Note that Donald Trump is invited to a social event in this film, but he had something else to do! ^_^

The film was gripping enough to keep me awake at night, and I wanted to see it a second time, but it’ll be the last! What’s more, I’m not at all convinced by the ending. These alternative endings annoy the hell out of me and I didn’t need them, as the film is already quite long.