Directed by:
Sidney LumetScreenplay:
Kelly MastersonCinematography:
Ron FortunatoComposer:
Carter BurwellCast:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Brían F. O'Byrne (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Andy, an overextended broker who lures his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke) into a larcenous scheme: the pair will rob a suburban mom-and-pop jewelry store that appears to be the quintessential easy target. The problem is, the store owners are Andy and Hank’s actual mom and pop and, when the seemingly perfect crime goes awry, the damage lands right at their doorstep. Marisa Tomei plays Andy’s trophy wife, who is having a clandestine affair with Hank. (THINKFilm)
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Reviews (8)
A terribly depressing study of twisted family relationships brought on by a tragedy. The characters have more personal weaknesses and character flaws than we are used to in American films, and the screenwriter sends them to the deepest pits of hell for it. The plot is unpredictable and although the picture feels like it is 20 minutes longer than it really is, it is never boring. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a thoroughly old-school psychological drama with very good acting performances, thriller elements and a special multi-flashback composition. It will exhaust you mentally. The curse of a journalist is to see such a film in the morning or early in the afternoon, as they would feel completely devastated for the rest of the day.
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Aaaaand I need Hoffman drops like this more often. The man is a super actor, a movie god, a demon. Luckily Before… doesn't just rest on his shoulders, and apart from the successful script, it's also worth mentioning the amazing music. Moreover, Lumet, at his age, doesn't make grinding philosophical dramas like other deserving directors and sticks to his hoof.
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When watching Lumet's film, I immediately recalled a certain resemblance to the famous Coen brothers' film Fargo. Not so much in terms of plot similarity, but rather in the genre classification and the model situation of a criminal act that was supposed to be routine but, due to a certain coincidence, turned into a shocking drama. It could be just an episode of a crime series, but the creators focused on a deeper portrayal of the psychology of all the participants in the robbery, so the film exceeds not only the genre average but also its boundaries. It is more of a psychological drama - thanks to the family relationships with an almost ancient resonance. Where Fargo turns into a caricature and works with "cool" elements and characters, Lumet's film is more intimate and depressive. Although here too, the spiral of violence spins at higher speeds, but there is no human body in a meat grinder. The presence of Philip Seymour Hoffman greatly helps the film, as the perpetrator has a much more nuanced nature and a more grateful role than William H. Macy had in Fargo. He's not just a weakling, but also an extremely dangerous player, and it's a joy to watch Hoffman when he entices to crime, when he writhes in a hysterical fit, or when he builds castles in the air. Each of the film's characters is excellently written and acted. Overall impression: 90%. The film works with the intertwining of different timeframes and the perspectives of individual characters on the same event.
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I appreciate the retrospective style of storytelling, where we learn the whole plot from the perspectives of all involved through multiple flashbacks, but apart from that and the fine acting, the film didn't really grab me. I was expecting more action, more psychological intensity and more build-up to a complete analysis of the viewer's soul, but the whole thing is just such a forgettable "meh"...
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A depressing family drama put together masterfully by director Sidney Lumet. The story is almost unpredictable, full of dark corners and incredible realities. The acting performances are great, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman is chillingly perfect. If the story hadn’t dragged in places, I would give this 5.
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