Movie Guys review: Satanic Pacino fires up ‘Devil’s Advocate’

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 3:38 a.m.

* Grades: Dave, B-; Jeff, C.

* Starring: Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron, Jeffrey Jones and Craig T. Nelson.

* Screenplay: Jonathan Lemkin.

* Director: Taylor Hackford.

* Studio: Warner Brothers.

* Rated: R for profanity, sexual situations, nudity and violence.

* Running Time: 138 Minutes.

Dave: This weekend you can find the devil in disguise -- however, you may not be surprised to find out that Satan is the head of a powerful law firm. "Devil's Advocate" stars Keanu Reeves as successful defense attorney Kevin Lomax, a charismatic and gifted lawyer with an undefeated record. He is approached by a representative of a law firm in New York looking to acquire his services.

Upon traveling to the Big Apple, Lomax and his wife meet John Milton (Al Pacino), who has been keeping close tabs on Lomax's blossoming career. Milton coaxes Lomax into joining the firm with a new home, big salary, and the promise of fortune. At first, everything seems to be perfect; but all is not what it appears to be. Lomax becomes obsessed with his job and begins to neglect what is important around him.

Pacino never disappoints. His brilliance as an actor is overshadowed by the amount of fun he seems to be having with his character. In every scene his presence is felt, even when he is not on screen. His mannerisms and demeanor are so over-the-top, it reminds me of his Oscar-nominated performance in "Dick Tracy."

As far as Reeves is concerned, he does an adequate job. It's not his ability to play a confident, all-American, GQ-style lawyer that I question; it's his lazy Southern drawl that makes me laugh. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two stars is missing one important element: Chemistry. Not even the frightening visual effects that are scattered throughout the film can hide it. But the saving grace in this movie is the final act, where Lomax confronts the devil himself. Listening to the devil pontificate on God's creations and the coming millennium makes you wish the entire film was that energized, instead of overly contrived.

Also notable is the beautiful Charlize Theron, who dazzled audiences last year in "2 Days in the Valley." She continues to show her range in her turn as Lomax's wife, starting out as a strong-minded individual and ending up as an emotional head-case. But it is the film's end that will have your undivided attention, as the devil makes his move.

"Devil's Advocate" gets a B -.

Jeff: If Stephen King and John Grisham were to get together to write a bad screenplay, the result would be "Devil's Advocate." Be prepared over the next few weeks when friends and family tell you with tremendous enthusiasm how great "Devil's Advocate" is. Don't be fooled.

What they are talking about is the last 20 minutes of the film. The devil (Pacino) reveals himself at the film's climactic, special effects-laden ending and delivers the most unrighteous monologue, full of fire and brimstone. But, hey! -- you know all of this going into the film. They give away the best secret in the commercial. The devil runs this law firm and recruits a hotshot young lawyer, Kevin Lomax (Reeves), to help him to create a new criminal defense division within the firm.

No surprises. Pacino is sinfully brilliant. He plays the devil with such class, such evil, you can't help but be hypnotized by his presence. Trust me -- you will never forget that wicked smile. But Reeves -- talk about your opposites. This time they certainly don't attract. Reeves is out of his element in every scene with Pacino. It's as if he needs to be holding a surfboard to match his persona.

His Kentucky accent comes in and out throughout the film, he conveys anger to the point of making the audience burst with laughter and -- don't worry, ladies -- there is a butt shot just for you.

"Devil's Advocate" is reminiscent of "The Firm" but doesn't determine why the devil is so interested in helping a junior lawyer become a partner in record time. How about a hint or two? Yes, the underlying themes of ambition, drive and materialism are rampant in the film, but you don't need the devil around to help a rich lawyer deal with that.

The world of evil is our own, in that we all make choices that determine our fate. Lomax wants to succeed so much, possessing all the emotions of the devil -- greed, ego, jealousy -- he indirectly sells his soul to the devil to become the most popular attorney in New York. If the theme is about how the devil is within all of us, and how we deal with temptation and seduction, then the presence of an actual Satan in the film makes no sense.

The devil has a separate plan that he reveals to Lomax that is more along the lines of "The Omen" than following the theme of temptation. "Devil's Advocate" is about right and wrong, but it takes a long and contrived pace to prove that the devil is dull as hell.

"Devil's Advocate" gets a C.