The old adage about people sticking to what they know best should be applied to Allan Dershowitz. A lawyer who rose to global fame thanks to successful defenses of rich and famous clients, Dershowitz tried his hand at writing fiction. The Advocate's Devil, a 1997 television film directed by Jeff Bleckner, is a screen adaptation of Dershowitz's novel.
The protagonist of the film is Abe Ringel (played by Ken Olin), a top criminal defense lawyer. He is hired by Joe Campbell (played by Holt McCallany), an immensely popular basketball player accused of rape. Ringel uses all of his skills and experience to successfully defend the athlete in court. However, during the trial, he also uncovers that Campbell is a dangerous sex maniac. Professional ethics prevent Ringel from disclosing these findings to the public. To make matters worse, Campbell lures Ringel's teenage daughter Emma (played by Gina Philips) into his room.
Dershowitz, a recognizable figure even to those unfamiliar with Anglo-Saxon legal tradition, is clearly an expert in legal issues and media presentation. However, this expertise does not translate well into fiction writing, as evidenced by Cyrus Nowrasteh's and James Steven Sadwith's script. The plot of the film loses its appeal quickly, and attempts to introduce romantic subplots only serve to make the film dull. Director Jeff Bleckner tries to maintain viewer interest with unconventional shots, but ultimately, The Advocate's Devil fails to deviate from its path to obscurity.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
Note: This review was originally posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on March 25th, 2004.
Watch the trailer here.
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