What
a difference between the current work of two octogenarian directors,
Richard Attenborough and Sidney Lumet. Attenborough’s Closing
The Ring is an accomplished work but could have been made
in the seventies. Sidney Lumet’s suspense thriller Before
The Devil Knows You're Dead is smart as new paint, a modern
film in every sense. Lumet’s been round a long time, coming
to notice with 12 Angry Men in 1957. He’s considered
an actor’s director which is certainly true again. His other
many films include The Pawnbroker, Fail Safe,
Serpico, Prince of the City, and The Anderson
Tapes.
Taken from a Irish toast, the intriguing opening
title, “May you be in heaven half an hour before the Devil
knows you're dead” sweeps across a black screen. Cut to
an energetic nude sex scene in which Marisa Tomei reveals a great
shape and Philip Seymour Hoffman clearly does not. After this
jolting opening despite sudden changes of time frame the stylish
black melodrama takes a tight grip and never lets go.
Kelly Masterson’s plot is Shakespearean bizarre.
So you’ll enjoy the full impact of the movie, I’ll
not to reveal too much and spoil an early surprise. Suffice to
say, two unlikely brothers plan a heist of a suburban jewelry
store. Andy Hanson (Hoffman), the elder brother, is a real estate
broker in debt carrying a heroin habit and expensive wife Gina
(Marisa Tomei) while the younger Hank Hanson (Ethan Hawke) is
also in debt, unable to keep up his alimony payments,. The brothers
have inside information about the store and think they can pull
off the theft without anyone getting hurt - a bloodless enterprise
and only the insurance company the loser. Not the sharpest tool
in the kit, Hank foolishly enlists aid from a barfly (Brian F.
O’Bryrne) to carry out the robbery. From then on things
go hopelessly wrong.
We soon meet the brothers’ beefy hard-nosed
father Charles (Albert Finney), who has a pivotal role as the
situation spirals into nightmare. His unerring sense of justice
at all costs will have far reaching and unsuspected repercussions.
What lifts this heist thriller far above the average is the shifting
theme of the dysfunctional family saga, so beloved of American
audiences in their TV shows. In this case, the family is its own
worst enemy.
Lumet
directs with an assured hand obtaining exceptional performances
especially from Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s
War) and Albert Finney (The Bourne Ultimatum). With
actors of the consummate skill of Hoffman, Finney and Ethan Hawke
you can’t go far wrong. Changing circumstances bring out
the evil in the family members, as they make the worst possible
choices that horrify even themselves. It’s a challenge for
the actors to make this believable.
Hoffman has been cast against type and plays the
arrogant smooth as silk brother Andy who masterminds the scheme.
He feels his father has never loved him and carries hatred for
his dad as well as resentment of his younger brother. Ethan Hawke
(Fast Food Nation) provides a nicely rounded performance
as the loser Hank, trying to look good in the eyes of his small
daughter at the same time making out with Gina on the side. Sizzling
Marisa Tomei has the smaller but still effective part of Gina,
adding the necessary sexual spice. The film is laced with confronting
scenes between Hoffman and Finney, as well with Hawke and Tomei.
It's the stuff of good drama; and the stuff of a top shelf director.
Visually the picture is perfectly matched by cinematographer
Ron Fortunato to the noir storyline. With the unusual shifting
timeframe, it's all very slick and cleverly edited. In fact, you
tend to think more about it after a couple of days for the twisted
plot, the excellence of the cast, and tight direction that keeps
the pace at boiling point.
Having seen seven other films in the same week Lumet’s
remains the most memorable. It’s a wild ride and one worth
the taking.
John Bale
To see the trailer for Before
the Devil Knows You're Dead, click the play button below
What
a difference between the current work of two octogenarian directors,
Richard Attenborough and Sidney Lumet. Attenborough’s Closing
The Ring is an accomplished work but could have been made
in the seventies. Sidney Lumet’s suspense thriller Before
The Devil Knows You're Dead is smart as new paint, a modern
film in every sense. Lumet’s been round a long time, coming
to notice with 12 Angry Men in 1957. He’s considered
an actor’s director which is certainly true again. His other
many films include The Pawnbroker, Fail Safe,
Serpico, Prince of the City, and The Anderson
Tapes. 
Lumet
directs with an assured hand obtaining exceptional performances
especially from Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s
War) and Albert Finney (The Bourne Ultimatum). With
actors of the consummate skill of Hoffman, Finney and Ethan Hawke
you can’t go far wrong. Changing circumstances bring out
the evil in the family members, as they make the worst possible
choices that horrify even themselves. It’s a challenge for
the actors to make this believable.