The Advocate (II) (2013) User Reviews

Just plain BAD all the way around

[buckcash · 1/10 · 23 November 2013]

The story had potential, but that potential was knifed, shot and strangled to death almost as soon as it started, and was certainly dead by the time the credits rolled.

The acting in particular, especially by the lead, was SO bad, I could hardly stand to keep watching. It was like every word out of his mouth was being read for the first time off a cue card, after spending his entire life in over-enunciation school. It was as far from natural and believable as any dialogue I've ever heard in a movie, and kept me from being able to stay engaged in the story. With every word, I was ripped from a suspension of disbelief and slapped in the face again and again with the fact of completely contrived it was.

And that stilted dialogue doomed the script itself to coming off as completely contrived as well.

The over-enthusiastic review with all the stars just has to be by someone who was involved in this horrible production. "Bad taste" just doesn't even come close to covering it as a reason.

My advice is to skip this dog, and go see a high school play instead, which would be much more entertaining.

Well Directed!! A good watch from start to finish

[abien_aime · 7/10 · 29 November 2013]

Okay granted, this movie will not win an academy award however, it is very entertaining!! Its a good watch on movie night at the crib. I am not sure why some people are saying is not a good movie but Don't LISTEN!!Check this one out for yourselves. The characters are polished and clear about their roles in this movie. The plot although done before doesn't bore you. You don't anticipate what's coming next. Also there is a surprise element to the way this attorney defends his clients whether they are innocent or not. So grab a friend or a date get your favorite snacks and dig in for this one. I promise you wont be disappointed!!

Great Neo-Noir Thriller

[MonicaK1971 · 10/10 · 30 October 2013]

I had the chance to see The Advocate at the 2013 Dances With Films Festival, and a few months later I'm still thinking about it.

Despite being a low-budget indie, The Advocate is neither your typical festival piece, nor a straight up genre slasher. The film is quite polished and restrained for a thriller, which is really to say it's smartly written, directed, acted, and yes, edited--that can never be underestimated with a small film like this.

True to the genre, the story has its fair share of twists and turns, so I don't want to give too much away, but aside from being a compelling murder mystery, it's also a deeply psychological tale about the pain of loss. And that sadness is superbly conveyed by lead actor Sachin Mehta, who heads a memorable cast that truly reflects the multi-cultural identity of LA. To top it off, the performances are underscored by a penetrating soundtrack that sails through the ethereal yet fierce territory of a nouveau-noir world riddled with deceit, loneliness, and revenge.

Thankfully, it's not all heavy duty. The Advocate also boasts those playful Hitchcockian moments of comic release. And the dialog isn't the only thing bouncing, there are some great glares going around, too. I'd like to see a mash-up of all those suspiciously sultry looks lending themselves to some good old campy fun.

Ultimately, the best thing about this flick is that it sticks with you. With all the layers of the mystery, it's the type of movie you want to talk about afterward, and maybe even revisit to study the clues once again.

Amazing thriller!

[ctyler-854-411558 · 9/10 · 25 November 2013]

The Advocate is a terrific criminal mystery film produced on a limited budget and excels in both categories. This film was well paced, with continual twists and turns that keep you fully engaged. Sachin Meta agonizes throughout, yet at times is also cool and in charge and at other times determined and doomed in his search for Absolute Justice. Is Kristine Klebe a beautiful heroine or is she a murderer; her story plays with you, at times you are sympathetic and at other times you are suspicious or disbelieving. It is a fascinating journey. The Advocate was remarkably well produced given its limited budget; and hard to imagine how much more powerful it could have been as a full blown Hollywood-style production. I would see it again.

A low-budget courtroom thriller that's actually thrilling!

[screenrioter · 9/10 · 23 November 2013]

Is Allyson Dougherty guilty or not? It's a simple question at the heart of The Advocate. But the bigger question is what will her attorney Ray Shekar do once he finds out the truth. And how far will he go to find the truth? The Advocate poses an interesting moral question: Can there be absolute justice? It answers it in a thrilling and thought provoking way.

My rating of nine comes in the context of its budget. Having seen so many of these low budget thrillers over the years, this ambitious movie stands tall. Not only is the story compelling, it looks great, with an amazing score and incredible pacing. By no means is it perfect, but one can't really compare low budget films with big budget studio fare. A really interesting part of the story here is that these are first time filmmakers with limited resources. What they produced was amazing, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

Film Noir

[uclag-854-967034 · 9/10 · 25 November 2013]

I've loved this genre since I was a little kid and the Advocate doesn't disappoint. First we have the moody music, which was nuanced without being cheesy. The editing was sharp. Then we have the Los Angeles locations, which is great given that most films are done in Canada with generic city settings trying to pass themselves off as Los Angeles. I find these films don't get the spirit of a city. There's thought and logic in the dialogue. I've seen the film twice with different sets of friends. After the second viewing I picked up more of the subtleties, which made it even richer. Is it a big budget film no. Does the Advocate tell a good story yes. Is it worth seeing? Most definitely. In this genre it's important not to pander to the audience. Good films make us think and don't provide summary dialogue or laugh tracks running throughout the film. They take us into their world for a few hours. And I enjoyed my time here.

Solid film with good lead performances

[denchtam · 8/10 · 23 November 2013]

I enjoyed The Advocate.

Both the femme fatale and the male lead actor delivered strong performances.

And the supporting cast (particularly the detective) was fun to watch as well.

I liked the pacing of the storyline, though I was hoping for a little more resolution at the end of the film.

All in all a good movie that kept me engaged throughout.

I'd recommend this film to anyone who appreciates Hitchcockian thrillers.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WIN THE CASE

[nogodnomasters · 10/10 · 21 October 2018]

Like Perry Mason, Ray Shekar (Sachin Mehta) has never lost a case. Unlike Perry Mason, Ray represents guilty people such as serial killers and pedophile rapists. Things change when Ray realizes serial killers will still kill after they are acquitted when his wife Susan is killed (Carolyn Stotesbery). At this point his clients disappear after they are acquitted. It isn't hard for us to figure this out, even the detective (Michael Raynor) who loathes Ray for defending these scum, is following him around waiting to bust him.

When the wife (Kristina Klebe) of a rich man is accused of killing her husband, Ray reluctantly takes the case which slowly weaves into complexity.

The early twists of the film were easy to figure out and in fact might discourage a seasoned viewer into thinking this is some made for TV hack Scooby-Doo script. That is not the case. The ending of film was very clever and it allows the viewer to "see it coming" as it unfolds. The only negative aspect of the film is that it makes you feel you are watching a low budget "B" film. The film is classified as a crime/mystery/thriller, although I was less interested in the mystery part than the nuts and bolts of how Perry, er ah Ray conducted the trial.

Parental Guide: F-bomb. Implied sex. No nudity.

Intelligent Thriller

[rufust-firefli · 10/10 · 20 November 2013]

I saw this film at a Film Festival at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Originality is rare commodity in film these days. It seems like everything has already been done.

But this film has some ORIGINAL twists & turns.

It's not predictable. That's because of the writing.

And the old-fashioned Court Room Drama is a lost art. It's nice to see a film without explosions from time to time.

The acting is believable.

This is a smart movie.

It's well-crafted and definitely worth seeing.

Vigilante Legal Thriller

[tsrichardson · 10/10 · 13 November 2013]

Watched this movie at Dances With Films Festival in LA several months ago. It is a dark twisted tale of a defense attorney who takes on guilty clients and gets innocent verdicts... for a price. When he accepts a new sexy client, he finds himself no longer emotionally disengaged. Add to the mix a humiliated cop snooping around which amps up the pressure in this taunt psychological tale of justice, remorse, and revenge.

Found out that this production was shot over a couple of weeks. You would not be able tell. Slick and high quality for an indy. Writer- director Tamas Harangi has made an enjoyable feature and I look forward to more features from him. Also, performances by Sachin Mehta as the advocating attorney and Michael Raynor as the cop on the edge really stood out.

I highly recommended this dark and stunning picture.

Really good movie....

[itisinotjustme · 8/10 · 25 April 2021]

This is a really good movie that will keep your interests most of the way through.

My only bad point against it is that it was pretty predictable, but having said that it was a very good movie that I am sure to watch again....

Great Psychological Thriller

[raquelzepeda · 9/10 · 30 January 2017]

I have not seen a film this good in a very long time! Well and intelligently written: good plot, witty dialogue, and interesting characters. Even the ending was a bit surprising.

I would describe this movie as a legal & psychological thriller. By the time it was almost over, I had imagined several suspects including the attorney's assistant as the accused's lover! Yeah that was a bit over the top. Anyway, I was very impressed with the film. The only set back is I believe the actors could have been more polished, except for Sachin.

All in all, it was good to watch an entertaining film on an otherwise boring Monday.

P.S. There is no nudity in this film. I don't know why that other reviewer called it a porn film?????