From a young age, television captivated me, but my tastes leaned towards the complex, even as a ’90s kid surrounded by cartoons like Toy Story and Rugrats. Growing up in Florida during the rise of digital cable, a vast new world of channels opened up, quickly making Nickelodeon lose its charm for a budding movie enthusiast like myself. The early 2000s ushered in what’s been called the “New Golden Age” of TV, marked by character-driven dramas and the rise of the flawed antihero, replacing the traditional perfect protagonist.
My father, a fellow TV lover with a penchant for horror and gangster genres, significantly shaped my viewing habits. Despite my mother’s reservations, my dad’s rule was simple: if it was on basic cable, it was fair game. This meant navigating a parental control system of sorts, quickly switching back to Nickelodeon if my mom entered the room while I was engrossed in something like Scream. This system, while not foolproof, allowed me to delve into genres that truly fascinated me.
The Allure of Al Pacino in a Legal Thriller
Image via Warner Bros.
Among my favorite films from that era was 1995’s The Devil’s Advocate. This supernatural horror story centers on Kevin Lomax, a young, undefeated lawyer from Florida, portrayed by Keanu Reeves, who gets recruited by a powerful New York City attorney, John Milton, played by the legendary Al Pacino. Milton offers Lomax an irresistible career opportunity. As Kevin dives deeper into his new life, winning seemingly impossible cases, he begins to uncover a sinister truth about his charismatic boss.
Raised Catholic, I was already familiar with the concept of scrupulosity. The Devil’s Advocate, with its themes of morality and temptation, both terrified and thrilled me. Beyond the horror elements, it was Al Pacino’s performance that truly captivated me. His charm was undeniable, especially to someone already a fan of his work in The Godfather trilogy. The Devil’s Advocate was a perfect blend of the horror and gangster genres I loved.
Pacino’s subtle yet commanding presence made the idea of him as an embodiment of evil almost believable, even likeable. I was fascinated by this charisma and wanted to understand how to be so captivating myself.
My fascination with Al Pacino led me to explore his extensive filmography. As I grew older, my mother’s viewing restrictions loosened, and Blockbuster became my cinematic sanctuary. While my peers were watching teen sitcoms, I was discovering films like Dog Day Afternoon. The advent of streaming services then opened doors to even his lesser-known works, such as The Panic In Needle Park. This exploration extended beyond Pacino, leading me to the iconic films of my parents’ and grandparents’ generations, like Candy, Perfume, and She Done Him Wrong.
From Reel to Real: The Lawyer Dream Inspired by Keanu Reeves
Naturally, acting seemed like a viable career path for me, but my parents had other ideas. In a clever move, my dad and I re-watched The Devil’s Advocate, this time focusing on the courtroom scenes. He framed the courtroom as a stage and jury selection as a study in understanding people. This “Jedi mind trick” worked. I decided to become a lawyer. The law seemed powerful, a “superpower,” as some lawyers describe it, offering influence and a potentially lucrative career.
So, I pursued law. And quickly found it incredibly dull.
Two degrees, one unfulfilling legal career, and twenty years later, I realized that while the courtroom had dramatic potential and the stories surrounding law were intriguing, it lacked the narrative depth I craved. Charm, once so captivating to me, no longer held the same appeal. I understood that true charm stemmed from self-confidence, and success came from consistent effort in any field.
I was forced to confront a question I had long avoided: What truly made me happy? I had no answer. My search led me through fine dining, acting, casting, talent management, contract negotiation, and countless other roles, none of which alleviated the disillusionment I felt after leaving law.
Finding Passion Beyond the Courtroom
What I failed to grasp as a young, impressionable viewer of The Devil’s Advocate was the reality of filmmaking. Movies are projects, and for those involved, it’s work requiring immense passion. As Chadwick Boseman wisely said about acting, “You can only do it if you love it because it’s not all the glitz and glamour people think it is. It’s really a blue-collar job.” Watching Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, and Charlize Theron in The Devil’s Advocate, I missed the underlying dedication to their craft. They were passionately acting. This realization prompted a reassessment of my own path.
For years, I had maintained a blog, documenting my thoughts on wines, impactful performances, and travel experiences. I wrote plays and short stories alongside my various career pursuits, never fully acknowledging what was right in front of me. I loved writing, storytelling, and analyzing narratives. It wasn’t just love; it was passion.
The Devil’s Advocate truly was my genesis. It sparked my interest in law and fueled my love for movies. Law taught me, albeit through a detour, the essential lesson that passion is non-negotiable for career satisfaction. Movies, in turn, taught me to relentlessly pursue my passion and find ways to integrate it into my daily life.
As The Devil’s Advocate celebrates its 25th anniversary, I am profoundly grateful for its unexpected influence on my journey. It led me down a winding path, but ultimately, back to my true calling: storytelling.
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- New alt: Al Pacino as John Milton and Connie Nielsen as Christabella Andreoli in The Devil’s Advocate, a supernatural legal thriller.
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- New alt: Close-up of Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate, portraying the charismatic and sinister lawyer John Milton.
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- New alt: A scene from The Devil’s Advocate showcasing the intense courtroom drama, featuring Keanu Reeves as the lawyer Kevin Lomax.
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- New alt: Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron in The Devil’s Advocate, highlighting the film’s star cast and complex character relationships.
