Movie Monday: Lawyers Are Evil.. even "Satanical"

There has been this movie that has crept up randomly in my life the past few months... through conversations with friends and regulars at the bar (funny how that happens sometimes). Then, while killing time while my son was at church (a few weeks ago), I found a bunch of clearance movies at TJ Maxx. This particular movie was there and I took advantage of the $4 price tag. I decided to watch it on Saturday afternoon and was highly impressed...

The Devil's Advocate



Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a defense attorney who has never lost a case. When celebrating his latest victory, he is approached by a firm from New York with an offer to help them on a case. Kevin and his wife Mary Ann (Charlize Theron) make the trip, which leads to a permanent position with the firm. As Kevin  spends time with his boss John Milton (Al Pacino), he finds himself paying more attention to work and less time with Mary Ann, who is struggling to fit into the lavish lifestyle that is expected of them. John eventually reveals to Kevin his true identity, The Devil, and proposes a plan that will forever change everything he knew about his life.

This is one of those movies that grasped my full attention in the first scene of the film. This movie was going to delve into the deeper side of things, through the thematic elements and symbolism. There are several instances where you have to pay extra attention in order to catch important pieces to the story (I recall having to rewind/ replay a couple times to make sure I caught things- like the story that Kevin's mom was telling in regards to his biological father). I sympathized for Mary Ann and the pressure that vanity had on her... others made decisions for her, especially about her hairstyle and color palette for the walls in her home. If that were me, I would be too stubborn to let that happen (especially about home decorating). Several scenes surprised me, including the love triangle sex scene and the final two scenes of the movie. I recall saying WTF quite a few times (especially when Kevin made his ultimate decision in John's penthouse). For anyone that's looking for a good thriller that's a little deeper and has excellent performances, I highly recommend this movie. Rating 4 1/2 out of 5 stars