Keanu Reeves Movie:

Editorial Review:
Too old for Hamlet and too young for Lear--what's an ambitious actor to do? Play the Devil, of course. Jack Nicholson did it in The Witches of Eastwick; Robert De Niro did it in Angel Heart (as Louis Cyphre--get it?). In The Devil's Advocate Al Pacino takes his turn as the great Satan, and clearly relishes his chance to raise hell. He's a New York lawyer, of course, by the name of John Milton, who recruits a hotshot young Florida attorney (Keanu Reeves) to his firm and seduces him with tempting offers of power, sex, and money. Think of the story as a twist on John Grisham's The Firm, with the corporate evil made even more explicit. Reeves is wooden, and therefore doesn't seem to have much of a soul to lose, but he's really just our excuse to meet the devil. Pacino's the main attraction, gleefully showing off his--and the Antichrist's--chops at perpetrating menace and mayhem. The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Against All Odds, Dolores Claiborne), who provides alternate-track commentary for the movie itself, plus a dozen deleted scenes. Also note: due to a settlement with artist Frederick Hart over the movie's use of a sculpture resembling his Ex Nihilo in Washington's National Cathedral, future releases of the film will be altered. --Jim Emerson

The Devil's Advocate [Region 2] Reviews:
"Paging Beelzebub, Paging a Mister Beelzebub"
2009-11-19 - I thought George Reeves was dead. Besides, didn't he play Superman, not the Devil? And -- What's that? George Reeves isn't in the movie? It's *Keanu* Reeves?

... Oh.

Okay, but what's with Charlize Theron, the Devil doesn't chat her up? The Devil doesn't ask her to stand on a mirror? The Devil doesn't order out and ask her to play hide the salami? What kind of a loser of a Devil is this?

What? There's nothing in Aristotle's theory of dramatics that says Charlize Theron has to get hit on by the Devil?

... Oh, okay.

But, but -- but what about Al Pacino, what's his part in this story? Oh, *he's* the devil! What, because he was in The Godfather? Because he's Italian? (Prejudice! Prejudice!) And I suppose Charlize Theron never dated Italians, is that it?!

What's this fellow "Keanu" supposed to be anyway, Hawaiian? What was he Actor of the Year in Oahu? Send him back to his little grass shack. I bet he never met Don Ho. Did he ever say Hi-ho to Don Ho? Do they let Italians into Hawaii? What's the Devil's position on that? And why wasn't Charlize Theron wearing a hula skirt in this flicker? I'm not clear.

Anyway, the Devil's not such a bad guy. He was a pretty popular dude up to the 14th century. That's when he made a big mistake and hired a really awful publicist -- Gina Bellapartes. A dead ringer for Charlize Theron. Italian, a great body, but she couldn't type a lick. Which, the licking part, the Devil got to later on.

That woman sent Beelezebub's career into a tailspin. Hey! Maybe that's why they got Al Pacion to play the Devil! *His* career is in a tailspin, no? -- He's never been to Hawaii. -- George Reeves is still dead. -- And God is in his heaven.

By gosh, by golly, it all makes sense now!



MUST SEE!!!!
2009-09-14 - One of my favorite films!!! Al Pacino at his best!!! If you're a fan of Al, you are definitely going to like him in this flick.

This movie is basically about the struggle between good and evil played out in the legal world amongst attorneys. Who wins.... Watch it to find out!!!:)

GREAT MOVIE!!!!

One of my fav...
2009-09-12 - I always found this movie to be one of the best by Al and Keanu...It epitomises the never ending battle between good and evil and the Devil's never ending quest to fulfil the desires of this flesh ;)

A superb performance by Keanu Reeves; an interesting flick
2009-08-30 - Even though I disagree with the "moral of the story" contained in this film, this is an interesting legal thriller that keeps the viewer's interest despite a few tedious moments here and there. Keanu Reeves plays the role of a red-hot up-and-coming defense attorney living in Florida, who is recruited by a huge New York law firm. Reeves has never lost a case, and his new firm's clients have a propensity for getting into criminal trouble. Al Pacino plays the managing partner of the law firm who recruits Reeves into the firm. You guessed it: the firm is not what it seems.

This is a supernatural thriller despite a superficial plot that is reminiscent of Grisham's "The Firm." There are enough surprises to keep the viewer guessing, and this is a snappy, stylish flick. Reeves is superb, and Pacino turns in his customary excellent performance.

I said that I disagree with the film's moral message, and I do. An attorney has a duty to do his or her best, and defense attorneys cannot always defend innocent clients. In fact, criminal defense attorneys rarely defend innocent, let alone blameless, clients. What are they supposed to do, lose on purpose? Are guilty clients to be judged in advance by the bar and be denied counsel? Of course not. I won't give anything away, but if you see the film you will see where I am going with this.

An engaging flick that is worth seeing. RJB.

The chuckle/grin on Pachinos face...
2009-04-03 - ...as the young lady goes exploring under the restaraunt table is worth the price of the disc alone...