DVD: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 7:15AM | By Aaron Osborne 
Seen on: April 21, 2008
Edition: Standard Edition
The players: Director: Sidney Lumet, Writer: Kelly Masterson, Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney
Facts of interest: When speaking with producers, who labeled the film a suspense thriller, director Sidney Lumet corrected them by labeling it a melodrama.
The plot: Andy (Hoffman) convinces his younger brother (Hawke) into robbing their parents’ small-time jewelry store, but everything falls apart when their seemingly safe plan goes awry.
Our quick thoughts: I was surprised to have heard so little about this film when it was released in theaters. This extremely dark tale of family manipulation, deception and betrayal combines original aspects of filmmaking with grade A acting to make one of the best films of this year.
First off, the story is beautifully crafted, using a nonlinear plot to take the viewer from one character’s point of view to another in order to show all possible angles. While this may sound redundant, the film progresses in this style to allow us to wrap our minds around the story in its entirety. With cuts taking us from minutes, to days, to weeks away, the film boasts magnificient editing perfectly planned around the characters and the main story line.
While the technical aspects of the movie are spectacular, it is only paralleled by the superb acting. Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman delivers an excellent performance as the older, successful brother who feels like an outcast amongst his family, and whose character develops into one reaching the brink of sanity. Marisa Tomei also does an excellent job as Andy’s (Hoffman) wife, who is also having an affair with his brother (Hawke). Ethan Hawke shines brighter than usual as the young, nervous brother who struggles to pay the bills.
Freaky quote: "It just came apart, Andy.” – Ethan Hawke
The final word: Solid writing, strong acting and stellar filmmaking all come together in "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" to form one of the best, most emotional films of the year.
Reader Comments (1)
i think one of the most disturbing sights my eyes have ever witnessed is the opening scene of "before the devil knows you're dead". i love ethan hawke and i really like philip seymour hoffman, they are truly magnificent actors. but what i don't need is that visual of seeing ol' mushy butt hoffman humping and pumping marisa tomei doggie style.
that was just fucking repugnant. how she could have even let that guy simulate fucking her like a dog is fucking disturbing. i mean he was really humping her ass, that shit was gross man.
now i could've made stood to watch the same scene with ethan hawke giving her the business, but philip seymour hoffman needs to stick to off camera fuck scenes. because you could not even call this a love scene this was fucking. pure, plain and simple.
he was smacking his fat rolls off the back of her bubble butt ass.