60
Metascore
19 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Washington PostStephen HunterWashington PostStephen HunterUnlike so many pagan entertainments that seem to have no moral center as they blow things up, this one in fact does. It's very small, but it's there.
- 70The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinThe film uses morphing and Rick Baker's monster effects strikingly, but it also keeps its gimmicks well tethered to reality.
- 70Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonThe story (adapted from Andrew Neiderman's novel by Jonathan Lemkin and Tony Gilroy) is surprisingly well-handled, given its rather crazy premise.
- 63Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertIt is not a serious film about its subject, nor is it quite a dark comedy, despite some of Pacino's good lines. The epilogue, indeed, cheats in a way I thought had been left behind in grade school. And yet there are splendid moments.
- 63The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick GroenThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick GroenThe Devil's Advocate is a dull morality tale, but a number of bright moments come courtesy of the Prince of Darkness.
- 60Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranDirected in bold, energetic strokes by Taylor Hackford, "Devil" is fine disreputable fun at first, a stylish and watchable hoot. But then its tone changes, the plot goes gimmicky and bombastic speeches about the nature of good and evil clutter the airwaves and confuse the issue.
- 50TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThis supremely silly supernatural potboiler is slickly entertaining for just under two hours and absolutely hilarious for 10 minutes near the end.
- 50Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumGod save us when director Taylor Hackford decides to become a metaphysician and Al Pacino decides to demonstrate his genius by reading the phone book--or, to be precise, a script only slightly less repetitive and long-winded.
- 50Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittTaylor Hackford's thriller makes a mischievous assault on today's legal system, but its points would be more telling if the story didn't veer so often into needless sensationalism and eye-catching effects.