“Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead”
“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.” With a title like that, a film might have some catching up to do. And the film, the latest from legendary 83 year old ‘working mans’ director (he’s been punching the clock in Tinsel-town via New York since the 50’s) Sidney Lumet doesn’t disappoint. In fact, by the end it enthralls, bleeds you a bit dry even. Turns out modern storytellers could learn a few tricks from Mr. Lumet.
Using a disjointed editing scheme common in the post-Tarantino era “Devil” takes an otherwise no frills approach to the story of a robbery gone wrong. The two desperate Hansen brothers, desperate for different reasons, undertake a poorly planned and even worse executed robbery of a mom and pop store. The twist? It’s their mom and pop. Hawke’s Hansen is the shill-a dead-beatish Dad down on his luck and short on his dollar whose older brother possesses an almost Machiavellian hold over him. But Hoffman’s Hansen has no hold over his own life-how was this monster created? A tenuous hold on a six-figure job isn’t enough for Andy-he has to keep his perhaps well intentioned wife happy, and living beyond his means isn’t quite doing it. Does the answer lie in a life in Rio De Janeiro? Andy seems to think so. The story builds its steam as it moves along. Just when you think you have all the cards figured out, a new one arrives. The last thirty minutes drew me in tighter and tighter, just when it might have been in danger in losing me; but Lumet played it well all along in the end.
Hoffman is incredible, he has eased into the role of great actor and here he is at the top of his game, playing sly, desperate, cool, psychotic, and a little boy who didn’t get his father’s love all back and forth at the drop of a dime. His wife, an often naked Marisa Tomei (she looks tremendous) is played well as a bit of a child, a woman who ignorantly cannot see her own passive culpability in the problematic life they have built for themselves. The rest of the cast is top notch as well in any and all supporting roles.
This becomes an extremely violent film. It is a dark world where money- the lack of it, the dream and allure of it, can drive seemingly sane people into other worlds. Well played Mr. Lumet, well played.
Story: B +A robbery gone wrong, two brothers who try to rip off their own parents and a spiraling of bad consequences told in a disjointed style.
Acting: A Hoffman is sensational, the film is very well cast with many interesting minor characters.
Visuals: B Nice. Not distracting, but with a definite look.
Originality/Innovation: B Just damn good film-making from top to bottom.
Enjoyability Grade: A - Very much so.
Overall Grade: B +Mr. Lumet has made a fine film.
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