Devil`s Advocate, The Review

Florida attorney Kevin Lomax - Keanu Reeves - has never lost a case, so it`s no real surprise when he`s head-hunted by a flash New York law firm headed by the eccentric John Milton, played by Al Pacino. Not only is he given a highly-paid job, but he and his gorgeous wife, Mary Ann - Charlize Theron - are accommodated in a swank apartment in Milton`s own building. After winning a case in which an eccentric, played by an uncredited Delroy Lindo, is accused of sacrificing a goat in his basement, Lomax goes to bat for Alex Cullen - Craig T. Nelson - who`s accused of killing three people including his wife. It`s about this time that Lomax and his wife begin to realise that there`s something very strange about Milton and his associates. Taylor Hackford`s film seems to be striving to be a Rosemary`s Baby for the 90s. Though it takes a long while before Milton`s true identity is revealed in the movie, the supposed secret is given away in the film`s trailer and even by its title. The Devil`s Advocate is really a bit of a muddle; the tone is uncertain. Keanu Reeves is terribly earnest, while Al Pacino looks like he`s having a lot of fun - and poor Charlize Theron gets gradually more humiliated as the drama progresses. Vastly overlong, The Devil`s Advocate has some clever scenes, and uses morphing techniques to good effect - but it never really adds up to anything very compelling.