The Devil's Advocate (film)

The Devil's Advocate (film)
By Alexander Maduro

The Devil's Advocate is a 1997 American thriller film directed by Taylor Hackford starring Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron, and based on a novel by Andrew Neiderman.
The film's title is a reference to the common phrase "devil's advocate", and Al Pacino's character is named after the author of Paradise Lost, John Milton. The movie has some minor allusions to Milton's epic. 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.

Contents:
1. Plot summary, 2. Literary allusions, 3. Notable locations, 4. Legal problems, 5. Cast, 6. List of MCW's partners.

1. Plot summary:
Hotshot Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax has never lost a case. In Gainesville, Kevin is defending a schoolteacher, Mr. Gettys, against a charge of child molestation. During the trial, Kevin believes his client is guilty after witnessing the furtive actions of his client. Additionally, it is clear the trial has not been going well for the defense. During a recess, a reporter speaks to Kevin briefly in the restroom and tells Kevin that "nobody wins 'em all." Kevin then decides to go forward to try to win the case, even though he believes his client is guilty. Ultimately, he wins the case after harshly questioning the young victim (Barbara) 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 & 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 process, it becomes clear that Kevin either has some kind of power or great intuition that allows him to read into the minds of 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. "It's a health code case, and it's a loser!" Kevin explains initially. However, he wants to win, and requests many books on health code. He soon wins this case, citing Kashrut 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 from his wife more and more, also fantasizing about Christabella Andreoli (played by Connie Nielsen), 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. Eddie Barzoon, a managing attorney, fears that Kevin is competing for his job. He has paranoid fears of being followed while jogging in Central Park. He hides behind a tree, where he is beaten to death by two vagrants.

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 by an investigator for the Justice Department about Milton's other involvements in arms brokering, money laundering, and environmental crimes. He also reveals to Kevin that his former client, Mr. Gettys, was found with the body of a child in his trunk. While Kevin is visiting Mary Ann, she commits suicide by cutting her throat with a shard of broken mirror, 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 Antichrist. Kevin is offered anything he wants in return. However, Kevin rejects this and his Satanic heritage when he commits suicide, ending Milton's plans. Howling in rage, Milton shape-changes into his angelic form which is the spitting image of Kevin then spontaneously combusts whilst Christabella rapidly ages and withers into dust.

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."

2. Literary allusions:
The leading character "John Milton" is an obvious reference to the the author of the English epic poem Paradise Lost.

3. Notable locations:
Alexander Cullen's 5th Avenue Penthouse is a room in Trump Tower, belonging to Donald Trump in real life.
When Milton and Lomax walk out to the firm's office water rooftop, the building that is seen across is 60 Wall Street (Deutsche Bank).

4. 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 apartment closely resembled the Ex Nihilo by Frederick Hart on the facade of the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

A settlement was reached where the sculpture would be altered in all future releases of the film. Prior to that, the studio had placed disclaimer stickers on their unaltered DVD/VHS material. The altering removed the human forms of the sculpture during shots in which a large part of the sculpture can be seen so that it would not resemble the Ex nihilo. This is most notable at the wide-shot when Kevin first enters Milton's apartment. During the digital animation sequences of the sculpture at the end of the film, the human forms are present and is the same in either version.


5.Cast:
Keanu Reeves as Kevin Lomax
Al Pacino as John Milton
Charlize Theron as Mary Ann Lomax
Jeffrey Jones as Eddie Barzoon
Judith Ivey as Alice Lomax
Connie Nielsen as Christabella Andreoli
Craig T. Nelson as Alexander Cullen
Tamara Tunie as Mrs. Jackie Heath
Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Leamon Heath
Debra Monk as Pam Garrety
Vyto Ruginis as Mitch Weaver, Justice Dept.
Laura Harrington as Mrs. Melissa Black
Pamela Gray as Mrs. Diana Barzoon
Heather Matarazzo as Barbara
George Wyner as Meisel
Delroy Lindo as Phillipe Moyez

6. List of MCW's partners:
John Milton, Founder
Eddie Barzoon, Managing Partner (Real Estate)
Pam Garrety
Christabella Andreoli (G-7 and E.C.)
Takaori Osumi (Mass Media)
Bashir Toabal (Energy Law, Islamic Sub-Group)
Walter Krasna (Maritime law)
Joyce Rensaleer (Mergers and Acquisitions)
Chan Sanyou (Intellectual Property)