The Devil's Own

A cop's crisis of conscience is at the heart of The Devil's Own.Alan J. Pakula directed this excellent thriller with a deft eye for intriguing shots and suspenseful action. Behind the hail of bullets and tender conversations is an empathy for both the IRA and the NYPD's motives. The Devil's Own (1997) is a testament to ethics, morality, and justice. All the bloodshed is not worth the wasted lives that die in their causes. Despite the film's lack of backstory for The Troubles in Ireland or the IRA, it gets to the heart of how people justify their actions.I found The Devil's Own a fascinating character study of Harrison Ford's police officer and Brad Pitt's IRA terrorist commander. You see how Pitt warms up to Ford's family and lifestyle. It makes you think of how Pitt's character is thrust into his life rather than choosing it. I do not think the criticisms of The Devil's Own hold water. It is not trying to be a historical documentary about the IRA, it is a thriller and a brilliantly executed one at that.Pitt's Irish accent is pretty good, despite him improving and polishing his accent in Snatch (2000). I found his acting quite compelling as he carries you through each scene with a cool confidence impressive for such a young actor. Ford gives one of his rare passionate performances wherein he actually tries. I liked the dynamic between the two men in the lead and how they juxtapose different sides of the law.Overall, perhaps this movie is not the best representation of the IRA, but The Devil's Own is an entertaining movie to the last. Gripping shootouts, tearful performances, heavy drama, and ethical dilemmas elevate The Devil's Own to one of my favorite Brad Pitt films.

Looking past the Hollywood honchos, the sappy music and the tidy ending it pays to look a little deeper at the film which purports to examine the "troubles" from an American angle. First we have Frankie McGuire (Brad Pitt) an IRA Rambo who can take on a whole platoon of heavily armed British soldiers like he was pigeon shooting. Then we have Officer O'Meara (Harrison Ford) as a typical NY Irish cop (i.e. Catholic, family man, soft-core Irishman). McGuire is sent to New York to buy stinger missiles so the IRA can shoot down helicopters. But things get glossed over : O'Meara, although played by the saintly Ford, is actually a corrupt cop because we see him covering up for his partner when the partner shoots a kid in the back and then pretends the kid had a gun. From that point O'Meara is a mess of moral anguish and blood lust especially when his family is dragged into Frankie's mission. No more to be said on the plot. It is entertaining enough if you know nothing of the Irish situation and overlook the contradictions in everyone's character which are not from complexity but rather from bad writing. There is a better more realistic story about IRA shenanigans in the US that takes place in Boston...and one of the stars is Whitey Bulger. That would be entertainment. Another sin: the waste of the radiant Natascha McElhone in a minor role that has no purpose other than to try to humanize Frankie just a wee bit....he is definitely one of the oft spoken of Hard Men of the IRA...at least in their mythology.

It's a surprisingly watchable film and not as eye-rollingly dated as it should be given this film is pre September 11. It moves forward in it's pacing in an admirable way, but there are many unbelievable aspects to the film. Probably the biggest silly aspects are that a city cop would try to sort out a Federal matter without so much as a phone call. Then there's a boat that's supposedly going to sail in rough seas, manned by 2 men.The plausibility meter starts to drop rapidly in the 3rd Act.Still, an admirable film in the way it is made. The cinematography is no joke with all of the night scenes. Costuming gives the film a look that's still contemporary looking 30-plus years later.

I would want to begin by saying I like Alan J. Pakula, the director very much. He made great movies like <Clute><All the President's men><Presumed Innocent><The Pellicant Brief><Sophie's Choice> and so on. The good thing is he is both good at romantic movies and thrillers.This one is both thriller and a human drama with human relationship between Brad Pit and Harrison Ford. They both are amazing in this movie.Honestly I didn't liked Brad's acting that much before since he always acted like a little bit idiot in some way.But in this movie he was totally different. He was a gentle, handsome, suffering, innocent guy who sometimes is brutal as well. Kind of complex figure. He is an IRA and there's something going on between him and them so he came to the US.Harrsion on the other hand is a cop who is nothing but a streight one. He just can't do anything that is against the law.They become friends and really close.The relationship between two are really interesting and that make us to watch this movie with delight through out.when the IRA comes to the Harrison's house to kill Brad, the trouble begins.The relationship between Harrion and Brad become shattered.There are fare amount of action as well that make you satisfy as well. Alan, the director is good at that.The location in the Ireland and the US is well compared and good to watch.This movie can be compared to Tony Scott's Spygame since both actors are in both movies.Tonny's movie is a failure since it's boring and there's no human's heart but this movie has a lot of love in it. I was made with the director's soul.You will truely enjoy this movie if you want to see human friendship story in it.

I bought this on the strength of the two main actors, but it is not good, Brad Pitt trying to be Irish did not work.( I, m from Waterford)Americans cannot and will not learn how to attempt any other accent, so it would have been better in his own voice.On the subject, American diction gets harder to penetrate!

Great movie had it sisnce 2008 and still working, good quality print, this is the beauty of Blu-Ray The Devil's Own [Blu-ray] [2008] [Region Free ] The Devil's Own [Blu-ray] [2008] [Region Free

Another good film

Excellent at its best

well worth a sit down and watch in an evening good tale good theme. good cast. good value.