You know that feeling when you watch a movie and you can just tell the actors are having the time of their lives? That’s 1997 for you. Specifically, it's the keanu reeves al pacino movie known as The Devil’s Advocate. Honestly, on paper, it sounds like a mess. You’ve got Neo from The Matrix (before he was Neo) playing a hotshot Florida lawyer with a questionable Southern accent. Then you’ve got Al Pacino, the man who defined "intensity" for a generation, literally playing Satan.
It shouldn't work. But it does.
The film follows Kevin Lomax, a defense attorney who has never lost a case. He’s recruited by a high-powered New York firm led by the charismatic and deeply unsettling John Milton. As Kevin climbs the corporate ladder, his wife Mary Ann (played by a heartbreakingly good Charlize Theron) starts seeing demons in the mirrors. Literally. It’s a Faustian bargain wrapped in a $2,000 Armani suit, and it remains one of the weirdest, loudest, and most entertaining legal thrillers ever made.
The Pay Cut That Saved the Film
Most people don't realize how close this movie came to never featuring its iconic duo. Warner Bros. was struggling with the budget. They wanted Al Pacino. Pacino, however, was at the height of his "expensive" phase. The studio couldn't make the numbers work.
Keanu Reeves stepped in.
He actually took a massive pay cut—reportedly around $2 million—just so the production could afford Pacino’s salary. Keanu basically said, "I want to work with this guy so badly that I'll pay for the privilege." You don't see that kind of ego-free move in Hollywood very often. It wasn't just a "nice guy Keanu" moment; it was a tactical strike for the sake of the art. He knew that without a heavyweight like Pacino to chew the scenery, the movie would just be another boring courtroom drama.
🔗 Read more: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
Why the Keanu Reeves Al Pacino Movie Is So Polarizing
People love to dunk on Keanu’s performance in this one. "His accent is all over the place," they say. "He’s too wooden," others claim. Kinda. But if you look closer, his "woodenness" actually serves the story.
Kevin Lomax is supposed to be a man losing his soul. He’s becoming a hollow vessel for ambition. He is the straight man to Pacino's fireworks display. If Keanu had gone big, the movie would have collapsed under its own weight. Instead, he plays it cool, allowing Pacino to lean into the most "Pacino" performance of his career.
The Milton Monologue
The climax of the film features a 15-minute monologue from Pacino that is basically a masterclass in theatrical overacting. And I mean that as a compliment. He rants about God being an "absentee landlord" and calls himself a "fan of man." It’s loud. It’s sweaty. It’s glorious.
- The Contrast: Pacino is fire; Reeves is ice.
- The Theme: It’s not about law; it’s about "vanity."
- The Twist: The ending isn't just a twist; it's a reset button that makes you want to watch the whole thing again immediately.
Realism vs. Supernatural Horror
One thing that confuses new viewers is the genre. Is it a legal thriller like The Firm? Or is it a horror movie like Rosemary’s Baby?
The answer is both. Director Taylor Hackford used the O.J. Simpson trial—which was fresh in everyone's minds at the time—as a blueprint. He wanted the courtroom to feel like a gladiator arena. But then he peppers in these disturbing visual effects. Faces distort in the background. Stone carvings come to life and start... well, let's just say they get "active."
💡 You might also like: Isaiah Washington Movies and Shows: Why the Star Still Matters
It’s gross and weird. It’s also deeply cynical. The movie argues that the legal profession is the perfect hiding spot for the Devil because it's built on the idea that "winning is the only thing that matters."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
There’s a common misconception that the ending of the keanu reeves al pacino movie is a "it was all a dream" cop-out. It’s not. It’s a test.
The movie suggests that free will is the ultimate trap. Even when Kevin is given a "second chance," the Devil is right there waiting for him, knowing exactly which button to push. That final line—"Vanity, definitely my favorite sin"—is a gut punch because it reminds us that we are often our own worst enemies.
Actionable Takeaways for Cinephiles
If you're going to revisit The Devil's Advocate or watch it for the first time, keep an eye on these specific details:
- The Wardrobe: Watch how Kevin’s suits get darker and sharper as he moves further into Milton’s world. It’s a subtle visual cue of his corruption.
- The Sound Design: There is a constant low-frequency hum in Milton’s office. It’s designed to make the audience feel physically anxious.
- Charlize Theron’s Transformation: This was her breakout role. While the men are shouting, she is doing the heavy emotional lifting. Her descent into madness is the most realistic part of the film.
- The Architecture: The film uses real New York locations, like the Surrogate’s Court, to create a sense of overwhelming, ancient power.
If you're looking for a deep dive into 90s cinema, start by watching the "God" monologue on YouTube. It’s the perfect distillation of the film’s energy. Then, watch the movie from the perspective that Kevin Lomax isn't the hero—he’s the villain who just hasn't realized it yet.
📖 Related: Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett: Why Fans Are Still Divided Over the Daimyo of Tatooine
Pay close attention to the background extras in the party scenes. Many of them have subtle prosthetic makeup to make them look slightly "off," adding to the sense that the world is crawling with things that aren't quite human.
Next time you're browsing for something that feels both high-brow and completely insane, remember that the keanu reeves al pacino movie is more than just a meme. It's a snapshot of two icons at very different points in their careers, coming together to make something that modern Hollywood simply wouldn't have the guts to produce today.
Check the special features on the Blu-ray if you can find them. The commentary by Taylor Hackford explains exactly how they filmed the "empty Manhattan" sequence, which involved closing down 5th Avenue on a Sunday morning. It's one of the most haunting shots in the film and was done entirely without CGI.
After you finish the movie, compare it to the original novel by Andrew Neiderman. The book is much more of a straightforward thriller, and seeing how the screenwriters (including Tony Gilroy of Andor fame) turned it into a supernatural epic is a lesson in how to adapt material for the big screen.