Ep818: THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (1997) 25th-Anniversary Review
Ian welcomes back Mike Crowley of You'll Probably Agree for a revelatory review of The Devil’s Advocate!
Taylor Hackford's supernatural legal thriller turns 25 this year, and the guys look at how it holds up as an example of the kind of star-fueled, big-budget studio product that made the late-90s special--as opposed to the IP-driven franchise freakshow that has all but killed this kind of picture in the modern era.
Keanu Reeves stars as Kevin Lomax, a hotshot Florida attorney with a flawless record, who gets called up to the big leagues when a Manhattan mega-firm takes notice. Al Pacino plays lead partner John Milton, who sets Kevin to work right away on cases that test not only his skills but also his willingness to compromise his already dubious morals. Soon, Kevin is consumed by work; struggling to save his marriage (to Mary, played by Charlize Theron); and asking questions whose answers have (literally) apocalyptic consequences.
In this spoilerific review, Ian and Mike rediscover a film that neither had taken too seriously until just this week--overlooking some questionable accents and scenery-chewing, and zeroing in on some rather meaty themes (both inherent and meta) that elevate The Devil’s Advocate to more than just disposable popcorn entertainment!
Show Links:
Watch the Devil’s Advocate trailer.
Keep up with Mike Crowley's film criticism at You'll Probably Agree.
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