Rating: 
Summary: A brilliantly insane and entirely overlooked film
Review: "The Advocate", written and directed by Leslie Megahey, is an underrated and overlooked film, masterful in its subtle insanity and brutally honest in its depiction of its characters and setting.The time is 15th-century France, a time when animals were subject to the same civil laws and penalties as humans and could be tried in a court of law. Parisian lawyer Richard Courtois (Colin Firth) and his clerk Mathieu (Jim Carter) arrive in a small rural province. Courtois intends to enlighten the suprstitious and backwards populous, run by an unofficial leader (Nicol Williamson). Courtois' skills are put to the test when he must defend a pig accused of murder. That the pig belongs to a roving band of gypsies only complicates matters. Mixed into the conflict is racism, accusations of witchcraft, political and religious corruption, and whispers of the Cathar heresy. The movie is wonderfully acted, and the director is sure not to glorify or soften any of the characters. Courtois may be intelligent, but he is also arrogant. The priest (Ian Holm) may be enlightened, but he is also a womanizer. The music and costumes are more period appropriate than most medeival fair, and many themes and signs of the times are apparent: the street preacher that accosts Courtois, the secrets of the Cathar heresy, and a particularly vivid Hieronymus Bosch-inspired nightmare. While the film is ostensibly a drama, their is much bawdy, Canterbury Tales-style humor, enough to keep the film from collapsing under its own weight. The film is finally available on DVD, and this may bring a new round of fans to it. For myself, who had only ever seen it on video, seeing it in widescreen was a wonderful thing. Be warned, however, the film has a very twisted plot, and multiple viewings may be required to sort it all out. That's not even mentioning the twist ending, a moment of deliciously black irony. Definitely a must for period film fans and certainly for anyone who loves quirky, slightly off-key dramas.
Rating: 
Summary: Serendipity Cinema #8
Review: A film you may never have heard of, but really should see. Trust me. (AKA "The Hour of the Pig") A good guy lawyer? A medieval good guy lawyer? A medieval good guy lawyer defending a pig who is charged with murder? And is isn't a slapstick comedy? This you got to see. The Advocate is an delicious medieval court drama that takes placein the days when humans and animals were both known to be hosts for the devil. Courtois, an educated lawyer (Colin Firth), runs from the big city to find peace in the countryside but, instead finds murderous acts holding the a village in fear. I won't give you more for fear of ruining the surprises, but the cast is peopled with dynamite performers like; Ian Holm , Donald Pleasence, Nicol Williamson & Michael Gough. Although there is a common inclination to sell this as a comedy,don't be fooled, there is dark moody drama here also.This is fun, thoughtful, intriguing drama and just one of the best films you are likely to ever see that contains the word "Pig" in the title.
Rating:
Summary: Serendipity Cinema #8
Review: A film you may never have heard of, but really should see. Trust me. (AKA "The Hour of the Pig") A good guy lawyer? A medieval good guy lawyer? A medieval good guy lawyer defending a pig who is charged with murder? And is isn't a slapstick comedy? This you got to see. The Advocate is an delicious medieval court drama that takes placein the days when humans and animals were both known to be hosts for the devil. Courtois, an educated lawyer (Colin Firth), runs from the big city to find peace in the countryside but, instead finds murderous acts holding the a village in fear. I won't give you more for fear of ruining the surprises, but the cast is peopled with dynamite performers like; Ian Holm , Donald Pleasence, Nicol Williamson & Michael Gough. Although there is a common inclination to sell this as a comedy,don't be fooled, there is dark moody drama here also.This is fun, thoughtful, intriguing drama and just one of the best films you are likely to ever see that contains the word "Pig" in the title.
Rating: 
Summary: weird and supposidly based on a true story
Review: i came across this by browsing movies. someone mentions it is also called The Hour of the Pig. That is the title i found it under at the rental store. i wasn't thrilled by it which is why i only gave it 3 stars. however, i am glad i watched it because i found it entertaining. the plot is somewhat shaky, but tells of Richard Courtois who leaves the big city to be a lawyer (or Advocate) in the country. He is appalled at the amount of superstition he find there and that he is asked to be the advocate for a pig accused of killing a young boy. He meets some interesting characters along the way. Albertus the priest, Samira who he falls in love with, Seigneur of the local castle with a son who has a problem (i don't want to give it away). he gets laid quite a bit, but has a hard time getting the woman he wants. in the end, he returns to Paris, realizing there is just as much corruption in the country as there is in the city. and the knight in shining armor arrives in town, just as the witch prophecied.
Rating:
Summary: weird and supposidly based on a true story
Review: i came across this by browsing movies. someone mentions it is also called The Hour of the Pig. That is the title i found it under at the rental store. i wasn't thrilled by it which is why i only gave it 3 stars. however, i am glad i watched it because i found it entertaining. the plot is somewhat shaky, but tells of Richard Courtois who leaves the big city to be a lawyer (or Advocate) in the country. He is appalled at the amount of superstition he find there and that he is asked to be the advocate for a pig accused of killing a young boy. He meets some interesting characters along the way. Albertus the priest, Samira who he falls in love with, Seigneur of the local castle with a son who has a problem (i don't want to give it away). he gets laid quite a bit, but has a hard time getting the woman he wants. in the end, he returns to Paris, realizing there is just as much corruption in the country as there is in the city. and the knight in shining armor arrives in town, just as the witch prophecied.
Rating:
Summary: A WELL MADE MOVIE, AND ACTOR COLIN FIRTH WAS SUPERB
Review: I WILL BET ALL MY MONEY ON THE THE ADVOCAT
Rating:
Summary: Good movie, not so good nude Colin!
Review: I'll agree with prior reviewers. This movie was well done and Colin Firth is excellent. But it's not worth purchasing this movie to see Colin in the nude. Ugh! He would do much better in the future to keep his clothes on in his films or do some work in the gym and put on some muscle weight! I believe most Firth fans would be slightly shocked by his incredibly scrawny body. After thinking him quite striking in Pride and Prejudice, I realized that perception was much better than reality. However, that said, his acting is great in this and definitely worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: A real B movie, raised up by great acting
Review: If I could, I'd give this 3-1/2 stars, not just 3. Colin Firth, Ian Holm, Nicol Williamson, and Donald Pleasance, among others, make this film worth watching. History fans might enjoy the before and after synopses of the characters and the historical figures on whom they were based. Colin Firth fans will definitely appreciate his bed and bath scenes, although his acting abilities take everything up a notch. Still, with the gratuitous nudity, modern feel, and slim production values, this film can't aspire above B-movie status. The plot's a bit convoluted. The story is minimally narrated by Matthieu, the law clerk, yet he figures very little in it. Is the story about his boss--the advocate--or about the town? Maybe it's too ambitious in scope, what with its contrasting of country life and city life, interjections of witches, superstition, racism against Jews and gypsies, fornicating by the local clergy, secret societies of merchants, the Black Plague, unusual hunting prey, and sodomy. Oh, yes, then there's the trying of animals in court, a central theme that adds both humor and pathos to the proceedings and proves to be the unraveling of a dark and dirty secret hidden within the town walls. The ending's twist on the knight in shining armor is a good one. The film's worth a viewing for some fine performances and relatively interesting Medieval subject matter. Just don't expect it to be high brow.
Rating:
Summary: Clever!
Review: In deed this is a clever movie that makes you chuckle, think and feel at the same time. It explores many facets of our human nature - lust, love, fear of the unknown, compromise for eluding the disharmony, seeking for truth and justice, and humor of the ridiculous. Its wonderful cast, good directing and well-written script, cleverly delivers all these elements in a compact 90 minutes. For sure it will stay with you a bit longer than you think it would.
Rating:
Summary: This movie I will never forget!
Review: It has been almost 7 years since I watched this movie and still it stays with me. I recommend it highly solely for the ending! It is not your average, everyday, boxoffice release; I totally give props on the originality. And it is so hard to find films telling a really good story. Anyway, this is the movie I recommend to my friends when they are in the mood for a tripped-out movie, but again I repeat...This movie is off the hook, because of the ending! Awsome storytelling and filmmaking. I cant wait to see it again. The first time I almost gave up on it thinking the donkey was going to get it, but don't trip I stayed with it cause the donkey ends up pardoned!
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