5. The Devil's Advocate
For two-thirds of its running time, Devil's Advocate is a courtroom drama, sprinkled with evil supernatural elements which gain momentum in the film's final furlong. Before long the courtroom vanishes and the celestial stuff takes over the entire film: plunging the viewer headfirst into sets of rich satanic imagery. Starring Keanu Reaves as a hotshot lawyer who moves to the big apple after being headhunted by a lavish law firm, The Devil's Advocate charts Reaves' workaholic attitude against his wife's slowly deteriorating sanity. Of course, there is more to this turn of events than meets the eye. And after some time, it is hinted that the work of Satan is in play. And who better than to play the Devil than Al Pacino on top form? Indeed, the narrative structure of Devil's Advocate is best reflected in Pacino's performance. The actor deliberately paces himself, showing admirable restraint in his performance before engaging in an exuberant outburst of bravado during the film's climax. Director Taylor Hackford intermittently jerks the viewer with brief spots of evil imagery, before the narrative and Pacino suddenly erupt like the volcanoes of hell.