THE DEVILS' OWN (1997) A Film Review by Ted Prigge Copyright 1997 Ted Prigge
Director: Alan J. Pakula Writers: David Aaron Cohen,Vincent Patrick, and Kevin Jarre Starring: Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Magaret Colin, Reuben Blades, Treat Williams
For months before its release, we all heard about feuding betwixt the leads on the set, and how the budget skyrocketed to a reported 90 million bucks. First off, I have absolutely no clue what the spent 90 million bucks on. The leads would cost roughly 35 million or so, then maybe 15 for the rest of the film, bringing it to roughly 50 million, which is about what it grossed at the box office anyway. But where did the other 40 million go?
Secondly, what idiot thought this depressing and suspenseless film would gross over 90 million? Just because Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt were in it doesn't guarantee a huge box office draw. I could have told you that, and I'm not even a film student yet. In "Seven," we were drawn into the complex and creepy-ass storyline that flowed nicely and was depressing in that kind of good way. And "12 Monkeys" was so complex that you couldn't help but be intrigued. "The Devils' Own" is not a bad film, but it's so messy that it almost is.
Now, the big news on the set was that the two leads were fighting over who had the biggest part. Now it seems that neither one and the film seems totally screwed up with who really is the big protagonist. Of course, I'll go with Ford because he's not as complex and is rather easy to figure out, so we obviously associate with him. But Frankie the Angel (Pitt) is a complex man who is a killer by nature because he saw his father killed at a very young age. He has never really been able to deal with it, and has no problem with popping a cap in someone's ass. But there are times when it's basically a role of the die where the scene's center is at.
The story tells how Frankie escapes to America after a big IRA thing goes bad, leaving some of his pals dead and another one going to America with him. Frankie has a bunch of stolen money with him, and is sent to live with a near-retired cop (Ford), and his nice family (mom played by ID4's Margaret Colin, who has no real part but is just there). Frankie seems like a nice guy, and he is. He gets along great with the family, and Ford pretty much loves the guy.
But little does he know about his violent past and the fact that he and his bud are dealing with some baddies in New York (led by Treat Williams, who is still aiming at that big comeback). The baddies eventually cause some harm to Ford's family (or near harm, anyway), and Ford finds himself on a personal mission to bring Frankie in, who is being persued by the American police, some Irish police, and the New York baddies. But the ending is anti-climactic and depressing, ending on the note (that is pushed in our face by Pitt) that "this isn't an American story; it's an Irish one."
The whole film is mis-led. It has no clue what the point of it is. Is it to just end on a down-note? Is it to present an interesting comparison between two interesting characters? Is it to just cash in on the double bill of Ford and Pitt? It seems to be all of these, and because of this, it just fails. The Ford/Pitt characters are interesting, but who is the story about? It can't be both, it just doesn't work out. We care about both, although they both do things that aren't with their characters. And the ending is just confused.
But the film is not bereft of goodness. In fact, there are several good things that almost save the flick. The acting is very good, especially by the two leads. Ford is, and will probably always be, awesome. Pitt steals the acting show, but not with his "authentic" accent, which is occasionally Irish, but sometimes not very comprehendable (one time he says "They killed my dad in front of us" and it sounds a lot like he said "They killed me dad fungus.")
But in the end, the film is bogged down by its confused problems, like pacing and concentration of the film. It almost has ADD which regard to what it's about. Give this flick some ridlin and it would probably be a masterpiece. The film is not bad because it shouldn't have been given that huge of a budget, but really because it seems the two stars had a bit of egotisticism they couldn't deal with and screwed up what could have potentially been a really great flick.
P.S. What in the hell does the title have to do with? Anyone got a clue out there?
MY RATING (out of 5): **1/2
Homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/8335/
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