Devil's Own, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2 1/2

Tom O'Meara (Harrison Ford) is a dedicated New York police patrolman with a loving wife and family. Proud of his Irish heritage, Tom helps out new immigrant Rory Devaney (Brad Pitt), a young Irish construction worker, by providing temporary housing in his basement. Rory gets along well with the O'Meara family. But then Tom and his wife return home one day and discover three invaders in ski masks. The couple survives a violent attack when Rory shows up to fight off these men. Tom soon realizes that Rory's presence was the reason for the intrusion. He eventually discovers what viewers have known since the film began, that Rory is really Frankie McGuire, an IRA terrorist visiting the U.S. to purchase missiles and take them back to Ireland on a refurbished boat. He's arrested but manages to escape, and Tom, who's never killed anyone in 23 years as a cop, is determined to bring Rory/Frankie back alive. Because Rory's true identity isn't a secret to the audience, you know it's just a matter of time before that's revealed to Tom. Meanwhile there are very few thrills along the way. A brief subplot involving an accidental shooting by Tom's partner (Ruben Blades), which raises a moral dilemma for Tom, is more interesting than the main story. The star power of Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt will certainly attract audiences, but they may be disappointed with this slow-paced, predictable drama.

Frankie's violent life begins at age eight, as we see his father shot and killed at the start of the film. Twenty years later Frankie is wanted for his IRA activities, resulting in a lengthy and extremely violent shootout between the terrorists and police with many Irishmen wounded and killed. Frankie deals with shady American arms dealers, leading to some brutal assaults and one bloody shooting in addition to the attack at the O'Meara house. Foul language is incessant, with 34 obscenities, 13 regular profanities and many mild and moderate crude words. The O'Meara family are devoted Catholics, with prayer at meals and a daughter's Confirmation shown. The Devil's Own is the latest drama to arise out of the unfortunate situation in Northern Ireland, but the unholy alliance of gruesome violence and foul language overwhelms any constructive political statements.

Preview Reviewer: Mark Perry
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232