You are here:

The Devil's Advocate

Name: The Devil's Advocate
Director: Taylor Hackford
Released: 1997
Duration: 144 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1997

Director

Taylor Hackford

Runtime

144 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a character-driven drama that offers a sophisticated critique of Western institutions. It effectively deconstructs the concept of the heroic professional by framing the legal profession through vanity and capitalism. However, the narrative is limited by its narrow focus on white, male authority and traditional gender hierarchies. The lack of diverse representation, particularly regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities, confines the social scope. Ultimately, while the film provides intellectual depth regarding systemic corruption, it fails to offer meaningful representation for diverse identities or neurodivergent individuals.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Devil's Advocate have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film adheres to a structure focused on the marriage between Kevin and Mary Ann, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or subtext.

How does The Devil's Advocate portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes male dominance within a corporate hierarchy, where Mary Ann's role is defined by her psychological decline and reactions to Kevin's ambitions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Devil's Advocate?

Limited

The high-powered New York legal setting is predominantly white and male, with no intentional diversity in the core cast and power structures.

How does The Devil's Advocate represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques Western institutions and unbridled capitalism, presenting a world of moral relativism and systemic manipulation.

Does The Devil's Advocate include disability representation?

Minimal

Mental health and psychological instability are used as plot devices to enhance supernatural tension, rather than providing nuanced portrayals of neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

Critiques Western institutions and capitalist greed with sophistication.
Deconstructs traditional morality through a lens of moral relativism.
Offers a compelling postmodern perspective on the instability of social orders.

Limited or Absent

Lacks diversity, especially regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities.
Reinforces traditional gender hierarchies by prioritizing male professional dominance.
Uses mental health issues primarily as plot devices rather than nuanced character studies.

Official Synopsis

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned.

How are these scores produced? →