THE DEVIL'S OWN
[Spoilers]
A film review by Chuck Dowling
Copyright 1997 Chuck Dowling
The Devil's Own (1997) *1/2 out of ***** - Cast: Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Ruben Blades, Treat Williams. Written by: David Aaron Cohen, Vincent Patrick and Kevin Jarre. Directed by: Alan J. Pakula. Running Time: 107 minutes.
*** This Review Contains Spoilers. ***
"The Devil's Own" has every reason to be a good film: a good cast, a good premise, and a respected director. But what it lacks is much more important: logic, interest, and entertainment.
Despite his second billing, Brad Pitt stars as a IRA terrorist who is brought over to the United States (thanks to a corrupt judge) to purchase guided missiles to help with the war in Ireland. Now as the movies begins, we learn that Pitt has killed more than 20 people. Then we get to see him blow a few more away. And we are supposed to like this guy? The film sure wants us to, making Pitt seem warm and fuzzy. The film has already reached its first problem, and only 10 minutes have elapsed. Terrorists are not our friends, no matter how attractive they may be considered to be.
The corrupt judge moves Pitt into the basement of Harrison Ford, a New York City cop with a wife and three daughters. In movie time, it seems as though Pitt has only lived there one week, but we are supposed to believe that these two men have somehow bonded. I never bought it, and the film has achieved it's second problem.
Pitt attempts to buy these missiles from a stereotypical bad guy with no personality (Treat Williams). Of course something goes wrong with the deal, and FINALLY, an hour into the film, the plot starts to begin. Williams sends bad guys to find the money, which is hidden in Ford's home. As they are searching, Ford and his wife arrive home. The three men attack them. Now, after that settles, Ford is understandably angry at Pitt for bringing this into his home. He sets out to bring Pitt to justice.
During the film's yawn-inducing first hour (where I actually became fascinated by my watch for about 10 minutes, before remembering that there was a movie going on), we keep seeing scenes of Ford being a cop. Why? To justify his top billing? To give him something to do is most likely. Then he gets involved in a mind-numbingly overused subplot about his partner (Ruben Blades) killing a suspect by accident. Also, the film completely gives away the ending during its first hour, when Ford confesses to Pitt that he's never killed anyone. Hmmmmm.
During the second hour, Ford's character is obviously angry, as he should be. Yet no matter what Pitt does, he can't bring himself to hate him. This is a major flaw. You've got a terrorist who's ruining a cop's life yet still presented as squeaky clean, and the cop chasing him who seems to be angry at everyone else BUT the terrorist. There's never any conflict in the film, and conflict is what DRIVES a suspense-thriller.
"The Devil's Own" (and what is the title referring to?) reportedly cost $95 million to make. $95 million! And for what, to see Harrison Ford shoot Brad Pitt? Come on. Like I said, my watch was more interesting. [R]
--Chuck Dowling
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