I walked into this movie expecting Pacino to amaze me and then wonder why Keanu Reeves was in it. To be honest with you, I'm not a big Keanu fan. I've just never been very impressed with his work. But I learned something in this movie: Keanu Reeves doesn't do a good job at playing it straight, but when it's time to kick in some emotion, he actually does it well. I don't understand it. The moments that I thought he'd be the most laughable were the ones that impressed me!
Then there's Charlize Theron (probably best remembered as the bombshell who took the "hot chick in the movie" title away from Teri Hatcher in "2 Days in the Valley"). This woman is gonna be a superstar soon. She has the look and she has the talent. Her role was probably the toughest one in the movie, but she pulled it off. Keep an eye on her.
The film was directed by Taylor Hackford ("An Officer and a Gentleman," "Against All Odds," and most recently, "Dolores Claiborne"), and he throws quite a bit of style into the mix, especially when it comes to the transitions. Rather than doing the standard fade to black, cut, or dissolve, he uses time-lapse photography, elevator doors, and even a paint roller to lead you into the next scene.
It would be a gross injustice if I didn't mention Bruno Rubeo, the production designer. I won't go into details, but you have GOT to see the Devil's office and his apartment! Well done, Bruno!
Are there
flaws in the movie? Just small ones, but the ending may be a big one for
some. "Devil's Advocate" is the kind of movie that has a lot of really great
scenes, but it may let you down at the end. The thing is, I'm not sure how
it SHOULD have ended... I mean, the villain is Satan! You don't just shoot
him and the good guy wins! As for myself, I liked the way it ended. It's
the VERY end that I had a problem with, but still, I really enjoyed this
movie.
Scale of 1-10: 8