Review of The Devil's Own (1997) by Filipeneto — 12 Feb 2018

A small disappointment.

This film tells the story of a young member of I.R.A. that, in order to buy missiles for the Irish terrorist organization, goes to New York undercover and settles in the house of a senior police. Directed by Alan J. Pakula (the last film of his career) and a screenplay by David Aaron Cohen adapting a story of Kevin Jarre, has Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in the lead roles.

This film is a little disappointment on several levels. Tries to be a thriller but the police are not exactly the "good guys" and lack suspense, tries to be an action movie but lack action, tries to be a drama but the screenplay is too lost and confused for that. Add to this is another detail: the pious image that the film moves from the IRA, which cannot be the villain, despite making run blood throughout the film. Pitt, in particular, is a terrorist so good- looking and friendly that the terrible things that makes almost become "forgivable" due to his painful and traumatic past. Another negative detail is a deeply stereotyped and prejudiced image the film conveys the Irish. The accent of many of the actors is also bad, too loaded and unnatural. Nevertheless, the film has good things like the performance of Ford, very good at his role of veteran police with problems of conscience, or the central idea of ​​ the script: a dangerous terrorist who want to buy weapons and hides in the home of a friendly and innocent American family.

For the Irish who know well the problems of Ulster, the film will seem confusing and far from reality. Many Irish will even find ridiculous or insulting the way their nation and people are portrayed. Still, the film is not unpleasant, since we don't expects lots of action or suspense.