The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers (WGA):

Andrew Neiderman (novel)
Jonathan Lemkin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A hotshot lawyer gets more than he bargained for when he learns his new boss is Lucifer himself.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | New York | Law Firm | Florida | Law

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

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	...	Mrs. Melissa Black
Pamela Gray	...	Mrs. Diana Barzoon
George Wyner	...	Meisel
Chris Bauer	...	Lloyd Gettys (as Christopher Bauer)

Also Known As:

Devil's Advocate (USA) (DVD box title)
Im Auftrag des Teufels (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, violence and language.

Runtime:

144 min | Turkey:136 min (TV version)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | German | Italian | Mandarin | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #35596) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | Canada:14A | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Belgium:KT | Brazil:16 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:(Banned) | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

50th Floor, Continental Tower, Continental Plaza, Wall Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The character Kevin Lomax's name may be a reference to being a "Low MACH." This is a term used to describe those people scoring below 60/100 on the MACH-IV test used by personality and social psychologists to measure "Machiavellianism" which is a measure of a person's tendency to manipulate and deceive others for personal gain. E.g. "Low MACHs" tend to agree with the following statements (taken from the test): No. 7.) "There is no excuse for lying to someone else." No. 11.) "Most people who get ahead in the world lead clean, moral lives." These are precisely some of the personal moral issues faced by the character in the film.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Reflection of boom mic on tiled wall as Kevin talks to Mary on payphone.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dogma (1999)

Soundtrack:

Days of Wine and Roses

All Quality Elements of a Magnificent Movie!!!

I watched this movie on DVD. It will be enough for me to mention that there had been no other movie where I'd had to pause the play in mere awe at the magnificence of the storyline! At a point, It was as if I could see my jaw on the floor praising in thorough amusement the brilliance, relevance-to-our-daily-lives, deepness of message, sophistication, great portrayal, top-of-the-class creativity, marvelous acting/directing/screen writing all having come together in a movie, which called for a rating of 9 out of 10 and no less, certainly, undoubtedly.

Al-Pacino's acting is to no surprise as brilliant as ever, exuding confidence, proficiency and clarity as always. Keanu Reaves leaves a great master-play in his work, meeting up to the acting skills required in displaying a character of wisdom, success, love and perhaps, of vanity. Charize Theron too puts up a play of passion in its right.

But what amused me more than all were the great and fantastic script-lines thrown around. All very meaningful and interesting indeed. The whole movie got me stunned and fixed at the edge of my desk seat, but the favorite part for me has to come at the end, where the theme of the movie comes to words and finds a chance as of clarifying itself in one the most brilliant ways I as one have ever seen possible! Recommended for everybody willing to enjoin on a meaningful story and a blend of excellent plays... surely a 9/10.