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The Devil's Advocate
1997 144 min Germany, United States of America R 18+
★7.4
Horror, Drama, Mystery
Director: Taylor Hackford
Trailers
Description
Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.
Budget:
$57M
US Gross:
$60.94M
Worldwide:
$153M
Starring
Keanu Reeves
Actor
Al Pacino
Actor
Charlize Theron
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1998
— Best Horror Film
Saturn Awards 1998
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1998
— Best Villain
Saturn Awards 1998
— Best Actor
Saturn Awards 1998
— Best Screenplay
Key opinion
The Devil's Advocate is widely regarded as a compelling character study of vanity and ambition, anchored by a career-defining, tour-de-force performance by Al Pacino. While critics and audiences praise its thematic exploration of morality and human vice, opinions regarding its pacing and runtime are notably polarized.
| Acting | Al Pacino delivers an electrifying and masterful performance that elevates the film, widely considered the production's greatest strength. | |
| Acting | Charlize Theron provides a radiant and emotionally resonant performance that effectively captures the tragedy of her character's decline. | |
| Theme | The script successfully frames the Devil as a symbolic manifestation of human ego and self-deception rather than an external supernatural force. | |
| Acting | Keanu Reeves gives a performance that effectively anchors the narrative, though some viewers feel he is slightly overshadowed by his co-stars. | |
| Pacing | The film's three-hour runtime and contemplative pacing reward viewers seeking a slow-burn thriller, while others find the narrative progression exhausting and bloated. | |
| Ending | The ending is highly divisive, with some audiences finding its ironic, twist-heavy conclusion brilliant, while others dismiss it as ineffective or tedious. |