Review of The Devil's Advocate (1997) by Caleb M — 18 Jul 2009

The Devil's Advocate is a big, well-made, entertaining Hollywood film. Hackford piles on the time-tested creepiness of such classics as Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, & The Omen, among others, as well as the legend that is Al Pacino to create a spooky, fun, involving ride to hell and back.

Pacino's performance here is phenomenal. He's only allowed to reeeally let loose towards the end, but when he does, he chews up the entire set. You can tell Pacino is having a blast here; the scene in the church involving holy water has to be a personal favorite of mine.

As for the rest of the performances, Keanu Reeves isn't half bad, although his and Charlize Theron's southern accents mysteriously come and go. Theron does a good job of acting frightened, and, for the most part, wins our sympathy. The film's score is noteworthy as well. Filled with eery numbers that really bring out the creepy but entertaining aspect of the film.

And the ending! Let's just say it's got one of the most satisfying conclusions since Interview With the Vampire.