The Devil's Own

Name: The Devil's Own
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: March 26, 1997
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford

1997

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 84 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 84 Ratings

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The Devil's Own

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 26, 1997 | R

Starring: Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford

Summary: A harrowing thriller about an IRA gunman who draws an American family into the crossfire of terrorism. (Sony Pictures)

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 107 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel

More important, we should take into account the fact that this is really quite a good movie--a character-driven (as opposed to whammy-driven) suspense drama--dark, fatalistic and, within its melodramatically stretched terms, emotionally plausible. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

As a well-directed star vehicle with a couple of good action sequences, this is good, effective filmmaking, but I was periodically bored; when Ford and Pitt aren't lighting up the screen nothing much happens. Read full review

John Krewson

What makes it worth the price of admission is the energetic performance Ford pulls off in the cookie-cutter role of big-city cop. Read full review

David Ansen

A topical thriller that manages to be watchable despite director Alan J. Pakula's best efforts to take all the fun out of it. Read full review

Peter Travers

Pitt and Ford try to dig deeper, but the script undercuts them with preachy dialogue that might as well read, "Insert stereotype here." Read full review

Kenneth Turan

With two of the world's biggest stars in tow, the creators of The Devil's Own can be forgiven for figuring that nothing else really mattered. If you've got Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, do you really need a coherent script? Unfortunately for everyone concerned, the answer is yes. Read full review

Desson Thomson

The Devil's Own, which stars Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, is so epically awful, it's practically homeric. Read full review

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User Reviews

AnthonyS.

Aug 28, 2006

The acting, directing, and storyline were all superb. Five stars! This film shines brilliantly and goes far beyond what most of today's movies can muster. The storyline was original, gripping, and touching. Both Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford play their roles impeccably - Pitt acts the The acting, directing, and storyline were all superb. Five stars! This film shines brilliantly and goes far beyond what most of today's movies can muster. The storyline was original, gripping, and touching. Both Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford play their roles impeccably - Pitt acts the terrorist renegade, and Ford the cop that won't break the rules. In the very end of the film you really get to asking yourself how much our lives are influenced by our experiences.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Stagger74

Jul 16, 2021

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0 of 9 users found this helpful09

Acquit77

Jul 19, 2021

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0 of 10 users found this helpful010

Xenophobe114

Jun 25, 2021

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4 of 14 users found this helpful410

Sputter

Apr 21, 2021

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8 of 19 users found this helpful811

Broyax

Apr 6, 2017

L'histoire n'est pas si mal et a le mérite d'éviter tout manichéisme réducteur même si le scénario se permet quelques raccourcis qui mettent à mal la crédibilité de l'ensemble, en plus de nous ennuyer parfois avec quelques longueurs indésirables.

On comprend évidemment le souci ici de nousL'histoire n'est pas si mal et a le mérite d'éviter tout manichéisme réducteur même si le scénario se permet quelques raccourcis qui mettent à mal la crédibilité de l'ensemble, en plus de nous ennuyer parfois avec quelques longueurs indésirables.

On comprend évidemment le souci ici de nous dresser deux portraits aux antipodes l'un de l'autre... Deux personnalités opposées avec chacune leur histoire personnelle : le petit gars de l'IRA sensiblement fanatisé, plongé dans la violence depuis l'enfance, face au flic papa-poule bon père de famille, la main sur le coeur, droit comme un i et psycho-rigide.

De ce fait, de ce développement des tempéraments soignés, le film tire son avantage et l'habituel (ou si souvent) médiocre Brad Pitt s'en sortirait presque avec les honneurs si Papy Harrison ne le mettait aussi systématiquement à l'amende.

Finalement, malgré ses bonnes intentions, le film se prend les pieds dans le tapis et son insistance à tirer sur la corde sensible finit par lasser : on y croit plus vraiment. Son potentiel demeure inachevé pour ne pas dire vain et la mise en scène trop plate n'arrive pas à le réaliser, malgré ou en dépit de Brad Pitt.… Expand

1 of 13 users found this helpful112

FilipeNeto

Feb 12, 2018

A small disappointment.

This film tells the story of a young member of I.R.A. that, in order to buy missiles for the Irish terrorist organization, goes to New York undercover and settles in the house of a senior police. Directed by Alan J. Pakula (the last film of his career) and aA small disappointment.

This film tells the story of a young member of I.R.A. that, in order to buy missiles for the Irish terrorist organization, goes to New York undercover and settles in the house of a senior police. Directed by Alan J. Pakula (the last film of his career) and a screenplay by David Aaron Cohen adapting a story of Kevin Jarre, has Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in the lead roles.

This film is a little disappointment on several levels. Tries to be a thriller but the police are not exactly the "good guys" and lack suspense, tries to be an action movie but lack action, tries to be a drama but the screenplay is too lost and confused for that. Add to this is another detail: the pious image that the film moves from the IRA, which cannot be the villain, despite making run blood throughout the film. Pitt, in particular, is a terrorist so good- looking and friendly that the terrible things that makes almost become "forgivable" due to his painful and traumatic past. Another negative detail is a deeply stereotyped and prejudiced image the film conveys the Irish. The accent of many of the actors is also bad, too loaded and unnatural. Nevertheless, the film has good things like the performance of Ford, very good at his role of veteran police with problems of conscience, or the central idea of the script: a dangerous terrorist who want to buy weapons and hides in the home of a friendly and innocent American family.

For the Irish who know well the problems of Ulster, the film will seem confusing and far from reality. Many Irish will even find ridiculous or insulting the way their nation and people are portrayed. Still, the film is not unpleasant, since we don't expects lots of action or suspense.… Expand

1 of 20 users found this helpful119

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100	#100 Best Movie of 1997
69	#69 Most Discussed Movie of 1997