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Before The Devil Knows You're Dead [2007]


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Slightly annoying Lumet effort
Review date: 2008-11-16 Rating: 6 out of 10

Sidney Lumet has made a lot of really good films - 'Fail Safe', 'Twelve Angry Men' - and lot of really not so great - 'Family Business', 'Q & A'.

Before the Devil knows You're dead is in the latter category, but near the top. It's a credit to the guy (and the film's underwriters) that an 83-year-old can make a picture like this, but it is inescapable that matters of tone went a bit awry.

I think Phillip Seymour Hoffman is great, but - in this - he feels a bit miscast. From the opening, graphic shot of him going at it with Marisa Tomei, it all feels wrong. He's not adonis and she - frankly - is stunning. My first thought was that this was a commercial transaction. Later on, he's visiting a transvestite. Is that for sex? It appears to be for drugs, but it's not clear. He's talking about trying to get his life together, but is that with his - astonishingly gorgeous - wife or as a gay man or what? This harks back to the obsession with trasnvestites in 'Q & A' and if Lumet is making some sort of metaphoric point, it passed me by.

The episodic, flashback sequencing is striking, but irritating. 'Get on with it' I found myself shouting at the screen. It's a good story - the collapse of the two brothers is car-crash watchable - but, here we go, back again.

Albert Finney is okay as the father, but the denouement is not only ridiculous in terms of what he does, but lacks any kind of depth. This is a father betrayed by his sons and yet he acts like he's Rambo or something. If my kids had done something similar to me, I would be wracked with guilt. Lumet misses that fundamental point - if your kids mess up, it's you who feel guilty.

Tomei is decorative and Ethan Hawke courageous in playing a fundamentally weak character, but it's Hoffman's film and as I am ambivalent about his performance, I am ambivalent about the whole thing.

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Reviews


too complicated
Review date: 2008-10-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

Normally a story with a great twist and plot really does it for me and I would rate it very highly, however this film somehow missed the mark. I'll give it three stars because of the originality and complexity of the story, but I could'nt keep up with the lopsided way the story was constantly going backwards and forwards from the past and the present with no particular warning. A good cast yes and actually a very interesting story but not enough mmmmph for my liking.

A tragic and hard hitting tale of desperate people resorting to desperate measures
Review date: 2008-08-17 Rating: 6 out of 10

First I need to point out this film is definitely not a feelgood film, it's very dark, downbeat and, ultimately, very sad. Two brothers with major financial problems decide to carry out a financial scam involving the robbery of their own parent's jewellery store. The idea is the brainchild of the older brother, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and when he first pitches it to his younger brother, Ethan Hawke, he has to do quite a lot of persuading to convince him. In the end they both agree that such a risky and desperate scam is realistically the only way to get them both out of their current dire financial straits. It's a decision that ends up having a profound and tragic effect on them and their family's lives.

The cast and acting in this film is top notch and the performances are very convincing. Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent playing the high-flier who has lost control of his life and seems to be failing in everything he does. His easily influenced and more wayward brother is also well played by Ethan Hawke, reluctantly following the lead of his older brother. Albert Finney is also superb playing the father who slowly starts to piece together the threads of his son's shocking plan.

When the arranged robbery goes wrong, a domino effect starts where one disaster leads onto another reactionary disaster and soon the brothers lives start to fall apart, dragging down many other people with them. As things spiral more and more out of control the brothers actions get increasingly more extreme as they battle to keep control of the unfolding events around them. More and more people get dragged into this vicious circle until their father realises what has happened and things take a tragic turn for the worst.

As this emotional whirlwind unravels you can't help but feel for sorry for the two brothers as matters go horribly awry in ways they never could have imagined. Whilst you rue their utter stupidity in involving themselves in such a criminal and high risk course of action, you kind of empathise with the desperation that can drive people to forego common sense in pursuit of a 'quick fix' solution to their problems. The film dramatically shows how foolish and compulsive actions can lead to tragedy, and how the instigators of these irrational actions are often just as much the victims as the perpetrators.

sinister downward spiral
Review date: 2008-08-17 Rating: 8 out of 10

This well made and gripping film gives a riveting account of the downward spiral sucking two brothers into a nightmare. I don't want to spoil the plot, but it did remind me of Fargo, with the same idea of making things worse and worse, solving one problem by creating another bigger one. Quite sinister, good movie.


A good film
Review date: 2008-08-03 Rating: 6 out of 10

`Before the devil knows you're dead' is an extremely dark and gritty film, be prepared to be feeling well and truly depressed after watching it. After reading the reviews I was expecting to love this film. After watching it I wouldn't say I loved it, but more 'liked' it. The first 20 minutes are pretty fast paced and keep your attention but as mentioned in other reviews the constant cutting back to the scenes from another character's perspective can get slightly tiresome. The premise of the film is basically two brothers (Andy and Hank) who are unhappy with their lot and want a new start in life so decide to rob their mum and dad's jewelry store, nobody gets hurt, they get their money and their parents are covered by the insurance. Unfortunately it doesn't quite turn out like that and the film focuses on the aftermath of the robbery as well as the leading up to it. The film succeeds in being very dark and melancholy but for me personally there was something missing. Also the ending kind of spoilt it for me, as I felt the mad actions of Andy to be a bit too mad and it felt like the film went a bit too far (as well as the acting). Also it was hard to really bond with any of the characters so I didn't really feel for anyone or their predicament. A good film, with good acting but for me was just missing that little bit extra. 3.5 stars.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Michael Shannon
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Ethan Hawke
Albert Finney
Marisa Tomei

Creators:
Albert Finney (Primary Contributor)
Ethan Hawke (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239195686
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-05-26
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Original Language)

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