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The Devil's Own

The Devil's Own

Crime · Thriller · Drama · 1997

Frankie McGuire, one of the IRA's deadliest assassins, draws an American family into the crossfire of terrorism. But when he is sent to the U.S. to buy weapons, Frankie is housed with the family of Tom O'Meara, a New York cop who knows nothing about Frankie's real identity. Their surprising friendship, and Tom's growing suspicions, forces Frankie to choose between the promise of peace or a lifetime of murder.

Movie details

The Devil's Own

“They come from different worlds. They fight for different causes. Now, two men from opposite sides of the law are about to go to war.”

1997 Crime · Thriller · Drama 1h 47m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Frankie McGuire, one of the IRA's deadliest assassins, draws an American family into the crossfire of terrorism. But when he is sent to the U.S. to buy weapons, Frankie is housed with the family of Tom O'Meara, a New York cop who knows nothing about Frankie's real identity. Their surprising friendship, and Tom's growing suspicions, forces Frankie to choose between the promise of peace or a lifetime of murder.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Devil's Own?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Alan J. Pakula

Written by

David Aaron Cohen · Kevin Jarre · Vincent Patrick

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford

Tom O'Meara

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt

Rory Devaney

Margaret Colin

Margaret Colin

Sheila O'Meara

Rubén Blades

Rubén Blades

Edwin Diaz

Treat Williams

Treat Williams

Billy Burke

George Hearn

George Hearn

Peter Fitzsimmons

Mitchell Ryan

Mitchell Ryan

Chief Jim Kelly

Court is in session

Put The Devil's Own on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.