The Devil's Advocate (film)
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- This page is about the movie. For the Taylor Caldwell novel, see The Devil's Advocate; for the Morris West novel, see The Devil's Advocate; for the Catholic term see Devil's Advocate.
The film's title is a reference to the idiom "devil's advocate", and Al Pacino's character is named after the author of Paradise Lost (see John Milton). The movie has some minor allusions to Milton's book. For example, the famous quotation "Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven", and the concentric fiery circles of Hell as described in Dante's Inferno are included at the end of the movie.
Plot Summary
Hotshot Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax has never lost a case. Kevin is defending a schoolteacher, Mr. Gettys, against a charge of child molestation. During the trial, he discovers through the furtive actions of his client that he is guilty. During a recess, a reporter speaks to Kevin briefly in the bathroom and tells Kevin that "Nobody wins 'em all." Kevin then decides to go forward to try to win the case, even though he knows his client is guilty. Ultimately, he wins the case after harshly questioning the young defendant and reveals that she had other children lie about Mr. Gettys, though her explanation is that "She didn't want to be the only one" to come forward.At a celebration after the conclusion of the trial, Kevin is approached by a representative of the law firm of Milton, Chadwick, and Waters, who offers Kevin an enormous sum of money to come to New York City to help the firm with a trial, specifically jury selection. Kevin accepts the offer and he and his wife, Mary Ann, depart for New York. During the visit, Kevin and Mary Ann are presented with first class treatment. He selects a jury that results in a not-guilty verdict. During the selection, it becomes clear that Kevin either has some kind of power or great intuition about the motives of those on the jury.
Kevin is then made an offer by John Milton to join the firm. Milton warns Kevin about pressure and if he can deliver on a deadline and still sleep at night. He also offers Kevin an extreme salary and a large, swank apartment which Kevin accepts. Both he and his wife appear to be ecstatic over this.
Kevin's first trial is defending a man who sacrifices an animal in a ritualistic manner. He wins this case, citing kosher laws. Meanwhile, Kevin has begun to spend more and more time at work and less time with Mary Ann who has begun to involve herself with decorating the apartment.
Kevin's next trial involves a high-profile murder trial against Alexander Cullen. This trial is much more demanding of Kevin's time, and he begins to separate with his wife more and more, also fantasizing about Christabella Andreoli, a beautiful co-worker. Mary Ann starts descending into schizophrenia as she feels lost and abandoned by her husband. She also has a strong desire for children. Her descent into schizophrenia is partially induced by other "employees" of the law firm, and by visions of demons and her dreams. This culminates during the murder trial, where Mary Ann believes that demons took her ovaries; she goes to a doctor and learns she cannot have children. This is again where Kevin is faced by a difficult decision to continue forward with the trial or to see to his wife. Milton suggests to Kevin that he should look after his wife and that "the world would understand", but Kevin decides to go forward with the trial.
Kevin later discovers that Cullen's assistant, Melissa Black, is lying about her testimony and now states that he believes his client is guilty. Milton even tells Kevin that he will back him whatever his decision is, but again, Kevin goes forward and wins the case, putting Melissa on the stand. Shortly after, Kevin finds Mary Ann in a nearby church, and Mary Ann claims she was viciously assaulted and raped by Milton. However, Kevin saw Milton in court with him for the entire time so he believes Mary Ann has done it to herself and has her committed to a mental institution. Mary Ann states that she realizes why this is happening, that she and Kevin both were drinking down blood money. Kevin is informed that Mr. Gettys was found with the body of a child in his trunk. While Kevin is visiting Mary Ann, she commits suicide, her last words being "I love you." After this tragedy, Kevin learns from his mother that Milton is his father. He is then directed to go to Milton and told that he (Milton) will take away his pain.
Kevin confronts Milton in his apartment, and learns that Milton is also Satan in addition to his father. He blames Milton for everything that happened, but comes to realize it was all his doing after they have a conversation about free will. Milton reminds Kevin that he even told Kevin that the world would understand, that he would back him no matter what. Kevin agrees with Milton, acknowledging that it was his fault all along and that he wanted to win, no matter what, and left behind Mary Ann and kept going.
Milton reveals his motives about wanting to beat God and also dismisses the biblical prophecy saying he's going to lose ("Consider the source, son!" he tells Kevin). He then explains that he wants Kevin and Christabella (now revealed to be Kevin's half-sister) to conceive a child: the Anti-Christ. Kevin is offered anything he wants in return. However, Kevin rejects this and his satanic heritage when he commits suicide and ends Milton's plans.
Kevin is then returned to the past, at the recess of Mr. Gettys' trial. This time, he returns to court and announces that he can no longer represent his client despite the possible repercussions to his career. Afterwards, Kevin is approached by a reporter who wants to have an interview with him, saying that he'll be famous. After a little prodding from Mary Ann, Kevin accepts.
Once they leave, the reporter transforms into John Milton, and he announces to the camera with a sly grin, "Vanity...definitely my favorite sin."
Resemblances
The film's storyline resembles that of That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis. In that, a scientific institution (the N.I.C.E.) is changed to a law firm (Milton, Chadwick, and Waters), and a young philologist is changed to a young lawyer (Kevin Lomax).Of course, in the novel by Lewis, the Devil never has a human appearance. Instead, he uses other ways to communicate with his subordinate humans.
Legal problems
The film was the subject of legal action following its release. The claim was that the sculpture featuring human forms in John Milton's office closely resembled the Ex nihilo by Frederick Hart on the facade of the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. [link]A settlement was reached where the sculpture would be altered in all future releases of the film. They also settled on allowing an initial release of unaltered DVD/VHS material provided a disclaiming sticker be present on the box while the changes were being made. The altering removes most of the human forms during shots in which a large part of the sculpture can be seen, most notable when Kevin first enters Milton's apartment. The sculpture reverts to its original state, complete with the human forms, for the closing scenes and the ending of the film remains exactly as it originally was.
The new version has been used on all DVD and VHS releases with the exception of the original batch, and is also the version used for television screenings.
Cast
- Kevin Lomax – Keanu Reeves
- John Milton – Al Pacino
- Mary Ann Lomax – Charlize Theron
- Eddie Barzoon – Jeffrey Jones
- Alice Lomax – Judith Ivey
- Christabella Andreoli – Connie Nielsen
- Alexander Cullen – Craig T. Nelson
- Mrs. Jackie Heath – Tamara Tunie
- Leamon Heath – Ruben Santiago-Hudson
- Pam Garrety – Debra Monk
- Mitch Weaver, Justice Dept. – Vyto Ruginis
- Mrs. Melissa Black – Laura Harrington
- Mrs. Diana Barzoon – Pamela Gray
- Barbara – Heather Matarazzo
- Meisel – George Wyner
See also
External links
| Films Directed by Taylor Hackford |
| Bukowski | Teenage Father | The Idolmaker | An Officer and a Gentleman | Against All Odds | White Nights | Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll | Everybody's All-American | Bound by Honor | Dolores Claiborne | The Devil's Advocate | Proof of Life | Ray |
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