LUMET DELIVERS A DEVIL OF A MOVIE
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD: A GRIPPING FAMILY DRAMA
Apr 8, 2008
83 year old master story teller Sidney Lumet – director of classics such as 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoonand Network– has crafted an immensely disturbing and tragic film with Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, an incredibly dark morality tale which focuses on the consequences and repercussions of a sinister act driven by greed.
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR
The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as Andy Hanson, a finance executive with an expensive drug habit and a trophy wife (Marisa Tomei) to support. In desperate need of money, Andy sets up the perfect heist to rob a suburban jewelry store owned by his parents (Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris), roping in his younger brother Hank (Ethan Hawke) - a divorced parent struggling to pay child support and school fees – to the dirty work. Hank in turn takes on an accomplice (Brian F. O’Byrne) who botches the robbery, triggering a series of events which will tear them apart.
A TALENTED CAST DELIVER CAREER DEFINING PERFORMANCES
Lumet's strength lies in drawing excellent performances from his actors, and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is no different. Ethan Hawke and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are extraordinary (with the latter firmly establishing his status as one of the best actors working today), Albert Finney brings the desired presence to his role, and Marisa Tomei gives a shocking erotic performance.
SIDNEY LUMET: MASTER FILMMAKER
The film was written by first time screenwriter Kelly Masterson who establishes her characters weaknesses and motives extremely well while leading them down a path of no return and no retribution, and Lumet’s craftsmanship leaves many of his younger cohorts lying in the dust. His talent and filmography has him up there with Scorsese, Coppola and Kubrick, yet he still continues to be frustratingly ignored as one of the best.
GLARING FLAWS HOLD THE FILM BACK
Opening the film smack bang in the middle of an extremely raunchy sex scene between Hoffman and Tomei reeks of cheap thrills, and the films multi-perspective, over lapping structure is marred by editor Tom Swartwout used of a weird, grinding, screeching and above all irritating device which marks the films various segway's into new territories.
A DARK MORALITY TALE
Regardless of its faults, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a powerfully emotional story about the destruction of a family torn apart by sibling rivalry and vulgar selfishness, and should be seen for its amazing performances and Lumet's fine direction.
