Surprise, surprise, Keanu Reeves (Kevin Lomax) is actually very good in this movie. I know, your probably thinking that this can't be. But it is. Keanu actually shows some range and emotional depth here. Lomax is an up and coming lawyer from Gainesville Florida that has an incredible string of victories in the courtroom, in fact he has never lost. This attracks the attention of a big New York law firm and voila! Big lights, Big City! Everything seems to be going just dandy until the enevitable happens. And inevitable it is. Nothing else about this movie is a surprise, not even the things that are supposed to be. If your paying even the least bit of attention, the ending is telegraphed way in advance.

      This film can't decide what it wants to do, or who it wants to be. There are some pretty good 'Stepford Wives' scenes invloving Lomax's wife (played extremely well by Charlize Theron). But they never really deliver. And that is the problem with The Devil's Advocate, it never really delivers. Al Pacino (didn't think I forgot about him did you?) is hamming it up as the Lord of Darkness, but he never connects with the Evilness of the character. It's all one great big act and he is loving every minute of it. There are a few scenes when Al seems to be really Evil, one in a church comes to mind. But overall the movie can't decide wether it wants to take itself seriously or not. And that's not a very good endorsement for seeing this film.

      Craig T. Nelson manages to put in a good showing as a lying building contractor, imagine that? And the cinementography is gorgeous (especially one street scene!). Special effects are nothing great, seen it before.

Bryan Ward, 1997