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-The whole story-

Giving the Devil His Due...

Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is a success in the courtroom
and out of it. He's a young Florida defense attorney who's never
lost a case. No matter how repugnant the crime, no matter how
guilty the defendant, Kevin Lomax has the power to mesmerize
the jury into accepting his arguments, buying into his logic, being
convinced by his charisma -- and freeing his clients.

Lomax enjoys a happy marriage with his sexy young wife,
Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), and even has a good relationship
with his straitlaced, church going mother (Judith Ivey), despite
her pursed lips over his "small town boy makes good" lifestyle.
In fact, things seem just about perfect for Kevin -- nearly
Heaven on Earth.

But not exactly.

One day Lomax is in court defending an alleged child molester. In order to
win his case he has to break down the victim's composure just enough to
make the jury wonder if a teenage girl might have lied about her teacher's
slimy advances. And win Lomax does -- despite his own awareness that his
client is guilty as sin.

Soon after, Lomax receives a visitor -- an urbane New York attorney
(Ruben Santiago-Hudson) who explains that his powerful law firm has
become aware of the Florida hotshot's acquittal record and would like to
meet with him personally -- at their very lavish expense.

Over the urgent objections of Lomax's mother, who asserts that New York
City is the world's nexus of sin, Kevin and Mary Ann head for the Big
Apple and a look at the astounding
luxury that life in the big city can
offer the fortunate.

And Kevin Lomax meets John Milton (Al Pacino), the man
who has summoned him in this extraordinary fashion.

Milton, an earthy, brilliant and charismatic man, is the founder
and head of Milton, Chadwick, Waters, a powerful, mysterious
law firm with interests and clients all over the world. He's been
watching Lomax and he wants him at the firm. He can make
Kevin a very enticing offer, he says -- a home, a salary, a
position in life that no one else can top.

Lomax, dazzled by the gorgeous apartment he's shown, the
beautiful women and powerful men at Milton's parties, and the
brilliant, accomplished partners in Milton's firm, grabs the brass
ring. He and Mary Ann move into their elegant new home and
begin a new life.

But as Lomax tastes the power of being a wealthy New York
attorney, something in him changes. Winning is no longer just a
goal -- it becomes an obsession. When Mary Ann starts telling
her husband that the other partners' wives are not what they
appear, that their life is not a good as it seems, that she's having
frightening experiences she can't explain, he comforts her
brusquely and ignores what she's saying.

And when Milton's interest in him seems inexplicably generous,
Lomax decides not to question it. So by the time he finds
himself defending a wealthy real-estate developer (Craig T.
Nelson) who's accused of three brutal murders, Kevin Lomax is
thrilled by the challenge, not frightened by his growing belief
that his client is guilty of an even bigger crime.

Then Eddie Barzoon (Jeffrey Jones), the firm's managing
partner, dies a sudden, horrible death. Mary Ann's terrified
perceptions pull her away from sanity. Another law partner, the
beautiful Christabella (Connie Nielson), teases Lomax so
seductively he can hardly think.

Kevin's mother comes to New York and warns him that the
situation has gone too far and there are certain things he needs
to know. And through it all, John Milton keeps reminding his
protégé that life is rich with possibilities for those who are
unafraid to sample them. But Kevin is beginning to be afraid.

Lomax's existence in Heaven on Earth has ended. Now he's
stepping into Hell. And standing at the gates to welcome him is
John Milton.