Rating of
2/4
"The Devil's Advocate" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 05/11/12
Hot shot Florida defence attorney Keanu Reeves has never lost a case, and so comes to the attention of a New York law firm that is, of course, run by Satan. This is one of those films that has a popularity I've never quite understood; it reminds me of Fallen, in that it's so ridiculous, yet takes itself so, so seriously. Pacino's speeches are more glib rants than insightful comments on the state of man, playing the Devil like a cross between a used car salesman and a pervy uncle at Christmas time, and Keanu doesn't have the range to make this kind of hokey nonsense believable. The gothic style effects just look silly, and the climax is overly melodramatic to the point of being laughable. The only thing that saves the film for me is Charlize Theron; her character's mental deterioration is easily the best performance and all the best scenes revolve around her. It does have a reasonable twist, and the scenes between Keanu and Pacino do amuse, but other than that, it's just daft.
