A riveting exploration of family dysfunction, bad behavior, and a jewelry robbery that intersect with far-reaching and deadly consequences.
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Written by Kelly Masterson
Studio: ThinkFilm (Distr. by Image Entertainment)
Video: 1.85:1 Widescreen Color
Audio: DD 5.1 Surround, DD 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: Spanish
Extras: Commentary with Sidney Lumet, Ethan Hawke, & Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Making of “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” and Theatrical Trailer
Length: 117 minutes
Rating: *****
“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” marks an anniversary for director Sidney Lumet. Fifty years earlier, he directed “12 Angry Men.” As a director, he is known for taking risks and experimenting with the medium of film, even now at his present age of 83. He turns 84 in June. His resume includes films like “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” “The Pawnbroker,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Serpico,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Network,” “The Verdict,” and he also wrote the screenplay for “Prince of the City.” This latest film is marked by tight direction and raw emotions. It also marks his first time making a film with HD video cameras, a process that he is rather excited about (Lumet talks about this in the well-done “Making of” documentary).
The plot of “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” is too important and surprising for me to disclose it here. It would spoil it too much, if you haven’t already seen it. In brief, Andy Hanson (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a payroll accounts executive, finds himself in a similar situation with his brother Hank (Ethan Hawke)—they are both in desperate need of money, each for different reasons. Complicating things for Andy is his failing relationship with his wife, Gina (Marisa Tomei), who is having an affair with someone close to Andy. In an attempt to solve his problems, Andy devises a scheme to rob a small jewelry store which has unforeseen and deadly consequences in the lives of everyone involved, including his parents, Charles (Albert Finney) and Nanette (Rosemary Harris).
This is a high energy film with excellent ensemble acting. It might have in it one of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s best and most emotive performances. Lumet extracts every ounce of emotion and drama from all of his actors. The film isn’t told chronologically, but skips back and forth, showing each event in the story from slightly different perspectives, filling in the gaps in the narrative. Sometimes I find this technique gets in the way of the storytelling, but Lumet handles it expertly and it only adds to the heightened drama and tension. It easily earns its “R” rating with graphic sexuality, plenty of nudity, drug use, violence, and bad language, though none of it is used gratuitously—everything is essential to the story. Sometimes it’s unclear why certain films are given the ratings they get, but not in this case; this is an “R” rated movie. That said, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead” is one of the best films of last year and will be remembered as one of Lumet’s best films of his career. Essential viewing if you love fine films.
– Hermon Joyner
