THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE Deciphered: Vanity, my favourite Sin!

The Devil’s Advocate. Kevin Lomax and John Milton

Can the devil harm someone who doesn’t believe in him? What form can he take in an age when his grotesque image as a horned demon with a tail, so well-established over the years, is only laughable? Can the eerie prince of darkness, the fallen angel locked in an eternal battle with God over human souls, the oldest of rebels, evil incarnate with a thousand names and faces, still instill fear and enslave? And what exactly lies behind the enigmatic concept of “free will”? Gallons of ink and reams of paper weighing several tons have been used in endless debates on the mystery of free will, God’s intervention in human life, and the symbolic struggle between good and evil on all levels. The topic is tricky—dangerous even. Every person has an opinion, raising the question of whether it’s possible to find a rational answer, at least in this world. Yet it’s also a timeless theme and an inexhaustible source of inspiration. The Devil’s Advocate it is.

This time, Taylor Hackford presents his take. Here is his protagonist. Many of us can identify with him, and some may even envy him. Kevin Lomax is a young and devilishly (pun intended) talented lawyer. It’s easy to believe, seeing him in action. He almost dances in front of the jury, striking proud poses, dramatically throwing down pieces of evidence, and indignantly accusing a tearful girl who dared to accuse his client (her teacher) of sexual abuse. We also see that client: small, pudgy, with a vile look and lecherous smile. The girl’s embarrassment and humiliated testimony seem to excite him. His guilt is obvious, and a guilty verdict seems inevitable. And yet… Lomax managed to wipe the look of sympathy off the jury’s faces, casting doubt on the weeping, wronged victim. He won.

Someone might say he’s just good at his job, that he’s merely doing what a lawyer does, and everyone deserves a defense. But it’s hard to shake the feeling that something is off. Lomax is proud of himself, intoxicated by his own success. A brief moment of self-doubt, when he gazes at himself in horror, marks a crossroads. He removes his wedding ring, a symbolic gesture whose significance will become clear later. He could abandon the case, follow his suddenly awakened conscience… But he returns to the courtroom and wins. With this turn of events, it’s no surprise that a powerful New York law firm, a legal giant, wants Lomax to join their ranks. Kevin is happy. Happy, despite his mother’s warnings and worries. Happy, even though he neglects the needs and ambitions of his wife, who longs for a child above all else. Only his mother sees the ominous shadow looming over Lomax’s life, but she is too fearful, too quiet, and too weighed down by her own demons to protect her son.

Kevin decides to accept the offer, setting out on what he believes is his conquest of the world. Does he feel any premonition of something wrong? No. Not yet. His voice is clear, his movements animated. Enthusiasm radiates from him. Enter John Milton. Lomax’s boss, the owner of the firm. A man who seems to wield absolute power and is dangerously captivating. When he speaks in his raspy voice, everyone falls silent with respect. When he pauses, his deep, piercing gaze seems to see right through his listener. He is cordial, but his warmth feels wild, as if it could turn into venomous hostility in an instant. Milton’s overwhelming charm seems to have no discernible source. It’s hard to pinpoint whether it lies in his unshakable self-confidence or in his power, which appears limitless. Milton, standing atop his skyscraper with the city skyline at his feet, seems to have the whole world under his control. And the world listens. Attentively. His influence reaches everywhere, and his resources are unimaginable. He has his clients in his grip; he knows everything about them.

Where there is great power and great wealth, there is great corruption. But Kevin isn’t aware of that yet. Milton slowly ensnares him with great skill. He knows exactly how to handle him, expertly toying with his free will. Above Lomax’s head, the greatest forces clash, and the world spins faster than he can perceive. In the face of eternity, his days are but a blink of an eye. We see the colors and elements swirl around him, while he continues to look straight ahead. That’s why he misses the drama unfolding in his wife’s life. He ignores the fears that flash before her eyes, taking on terrifying forms like something out of a nightmare. He fails to grasp the overwhelming, hopeless loneliness that has consumed her. In the end, he makes a mistake, one cautioned against by a wise Chinese proverb: Be careful what you wish for. He forsakes the woman who trusts him, love, and family—for the case he’s working on. He does so of his own free will. He makes the final decision. In fact, he had already made it earlier, symbolized by removing his wedding ring during the recess of the sexual abuse trial. If he returns to the courtroom and wins, he will lose everything he once loved and believed in.

Talk to people. Don’t be someone nobody ever talks to this much. Because then you might be tempted to trust the first person who does. Especially if that person knows how to talk. Knows how to imbue even the simplest gesture with erotic meaning. Knows how to possess. To deceive. To destroy. Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves…

Terrified, trembling, broken, Kevin—who has just watched his wife slit her throat with her final words, “I love you”—learns the truth. John Milton is Satan. John Milton is his father.

Call me Dad…

On an eerily deserted Manhattan, the final act of a bloody tragedy, one Kevin—like Macbeth—brought upon himself, begins. It’s empty and absolutely silent, as if time and space no longer matter—no longer exist.

Once again, John Milton gazes mockingly into the eyes of his highest adversary. He has visited Him in His sacred abode and challenged Him.

The Final Showdown Between Father And Son

Where is God? Now, Kevin needs Him more than ever. He looks for Him and calls out to Him, because here, in the quiet of Milton’s office, he stands at the gates of hell. Milton is in his element. With his red-haired daughter—the new incarnation of Bulgakov’s Hella, the embodiment of Kevin’s erotic desires—by his side, Milton lays out intoxicating visions. He promises endless pleasure. What we call the Apocalypse would become a string of successes for Kevin. If only he gives Milton what he desires most—a family. When asked about God, Milton laughs. His fiery monologue would make even Hamlet proud. God is a prankster, he says, claiming that if anyone loves humanity, it’s him—the one with so many names. He is man’s biggest fan!

What can save Kevin? God is far away. Pleasure is close. Just within reach. And then, the wedding ring he had once recklessly removed becomes a source of strength for him. He is still free. He can still choose for himself. Free will!

It’s time. Free will, right?

The Final Victory?

Kevin Lomax, a young and talented lawyer, defends a teacher accused of sexual abuse. He now knows his client is guilty. He knows he can no longer defend him. He makes the decision and resigns from the case. He returns to the courtroom, where his supportive wife smiles at him…

Is This The End?

To which doors in the human heart can the devil still knock in these unbearably rationalized times? Can he still have any influence?