The Devil's Own

After all the hubbub about The Devil's Own (inflated budgets, major script doctoring, and a reported tumultuous relationship between its two mega-stars), director Alan J. Pakula's thriller is actually worth the watch. In his first attempt to act with an accent, Brad Pitt plays Rory Devaney, a.k.a Frankie McGuire, a gun-toting IRA terrorist, seeking revenge ever since he witnessed his father's murder when he was eight. The Irish government is after the lethal laddie, so McGuire makes plans to visit New York City to purchase more weapons, while seeking refuge in the family home of the unsuspecting New York City cop, Tom O'Meara (Harrison Ford). Though the premise may seem a long stretch, and the development of the male bond between cop and criminal takes a rather lengthy turn, The Devil's Own is a realistic portrayal of two men who both choose to uphold their own political ideals. Recommended. (M. K. Lau)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 29, 2008—Sony, 111 min., R, $28.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1997's The Devil's Own boasts a mostly fine 1080p transfer and impressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio, but no extras beyond trailers. Bottom line: for a high-profile catalog title with two superstars, it's disappointing that this is such a barebones release.]