Film fans are calling one of Brad Pitt’s earliest films ‘highly underrated’, with some viewers ‘shocked’ by the crime thriller’s negative reviews. The hidden gem, which is currently streaming on Netflix, sees Pitt star opposite the legendary Harrison Ford in what fans have described as an “outstanding” joint performance. 

The Devil’s Own, which was first released in 1997, is a mystery thriller that sees Pitt take on an Irish accent to play a member of the IRA.

The synopsis on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “As a favor to a friend, policeman Tom O’Meara (Harrison Ford) lets visiting Irishman Rory Devaney (Brad Pitt) stay with him and his family in New York City. 

“Rory’s visit is quiet at first, but when Tom and his wife, Sheila (Margaret Colin), return home one day, they’re accosted by intruders. Tom soon realizes that Rory is in the Irish Republican Army. 

“When it becomes clear that Rory’s stateside trip is part of an effort to transport illegal guns to Dublin, Tom is compelled to stop him.”

Despite the film’s measly 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes, fans have since come to its defence, describing it as a “nostalgic” and “compelling” watch.

One wrote: “A really good and underrated thriller film with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford having great chemistry and contains some pretty good action sequences.”

Another noted: “A slow paced film that really builds up the relationship between a good decent cop and a young IRA irishmen. This movie is all about regret and destiny and I find this film highly underrated.”

“A gripping thrill ride and the story of a man torn between good and evil which has a dramatic ending,” a third penned, while another said that Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt were “both excellent” in the film.

“Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt give outstanding performances and this is anything but a boring, unwatchable film,” another person argued.

Other viewers weren’t impressed, however, with one writing: “This is a movie that would’ve benefitted from some paring down. There’s too many threads, none of which are really developed. As a result, the film is muddled but watchable.”

Another commented: “A film that literally has nothing to say and is ultimately about absolutely nothing. Whatever possessed Pitt and Ford to sign on to this will and I hope should remain a mystery.”

“An uneven pace and storytelling compromise a promising cast and premise,” a third person critiqued, as one more added: “A mess of inauthentic emotion and catharsis mixed with a couple cheap thrills here and there.”

Nevertheless, yet more fans were confused by the film’s poor reviews, with one writing: “I honestly don’t know what this low rating is all about. I f***ing love this movie. Great acting. Compelling story. Good balance of tense, happy, and sad moments.”

“I’m shocked at the dismal RT ratings for this outstanding movie,” another person remarked, as a third agreed: “I am confused as to why this movie got such bad reviews. It was a very good movie and the cast was excellent.”

One more person argued: “I think there are a lot of films that belong lower on the shelf than this one. I don’t understand the criticism it seems to gather. Ford and Pitt are excellent leads and the character development is great. Underrated for sure.”

The Devil’s Own is available to stream now on Netflix.

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