Devil's Advocate (DVD, 1998)

This review is not about the movie itself (good/bad), the acting, script, scenery, etc. This is about the Devil's Advocate versus "Ex Nihilo" by artist Frederick Hart.

This particular edition of Devil's Advocate is the version that was similar to what was shown in the theater. It contains the now rare scene of "Ex Nihilo" by artist Frederick Hart moving around like tortured souls in the Penthouse scene of Pacino's place.

The following from "Rare & Out of Print DVDs" site:
Chapter 16, 00:49:25, when the scene transitions to the inside of John Milton's office, we get an entire view of the sculpture.
Chapter 37, 1:56:54, Kevin Lomax goes to John Milton's office after his wife has killed herself. The scene reveals a close-up of Kevin as the elevator door opens, then changes to a shot of the entire sculpture again.
Chapter 37, 1:56:15 - big difference between this copy of the DVD and future DVD releases. In this shot on the edited DVD, we see the sculpture start to swirl for a few seconds before the shot changes. At approximately 1:57:23 on the edited DVD, after John Milton says "I don't make things happen," the shot changes to show the sculpture still moving a little, but the figures are appearing. The sculpture is still in view and John Milton walks into the shot as he says "Doesn't work like that." Then Kevin asks "What did you do to--" here's where the shot goes back to Kevin -- "Mary Ann?" This segment appears to use an alternate take or frames from an alternate version of the scene to show as little as possible of the statue in its original form. In this scene in the original version, the camera stays on Kevin Lomax and John Milton until after Kevin asks "What did you do to Mary Ann?" - it does not cut away and then back to Kevin again. From this point on the two DVD versions are identical. Both versions run exactly 2:23:48. The extra features and audio options are the same, and other than the UPC, cat. # and the warning that appears on the case of the unedited DVD, the cases are identical except that the original issue DVD does not have SPECIAL EDITION printed on the spine, but it does still have it printed at the top on the front.

We Americans love our cheese! This not a particularly meaningful film but it is worth watching for Al Pacino's Performance as the Devil.

Pacino chews up the scenery here. He intentionally plays it way over the top. He leaves Keanu Reeves in the dirt. I think director Taylor Hackford chose Reeves for the role because he does favor Pacino a bit. Reeve's southern Florida accent is as bad as his English accent in Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The only performer who can stand with Pacino is Charlize Theron. Theron, who is South African, has the perfect southern accent. A great early performance from Theron!

I purchased this film because of the great acting by Pacino, Theron and NO film with Delroy Lindo can be all bad!

The movie can be seen as Holywood enterteinment and thats fine. However, if one has spiritual thirst, the movie will be seen in a different light. Devil's Advocate presents tests for the trendy up-and-coming young professional, it shows how ambition, even when perceived as mild, can be toxic. In this case, a lawyer, Keanu Reeves, has to make descisions under difficult circumstances threatening his marriage an his soul. If you think this might be something of interest - consider geting the DVD, so that after seeing the movie you can see the detail comentary by the director/producer.

Good heaven/hell movie. al pacino is great. good film. A small city lawyer who has never lost a case is brought to a new firm in New York to work for Al pacino. As the movie progresses, he notices that things aren't as they appear to be.

This is a very disturbing movie and it will keep you up nights. Finally hollywood portraying Satan a lawyer gives this movie a plausible plotline.

Pacino plays the devil better than you would expect and Keanu Reeves even suprised me with a few tidbits of acting talent.

Charlize Theron provides great scenery too pushing this movie into the NO KIDS category.