Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a very strange film. What makes it so odd is the lack of information regarding the writer of the script Kelly Masterson. It is as though Masterson simply appeared out of the “ether” and was somehow able to acquire the directing talents of Sidney Lumet. It is a true mystery of human cinema of the day and it raises many questions.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a very good film, especially for feeble-minded humans, and it was placed a top the list of many film critics top films for 2007 and this is quite odd, nearly as odd as the mysterious origins of the film's writer. While, there can be no doubt that Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a very good film, the script does not possess the necessary originality to warrant such high praise. Also the highly annoying editing choices that could have even prompted a robot into seizure are, in themselves, enough to demote Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead From the “best of” list. Then, there is the ocular circuit burning horror of seeing a naked Philip Seymour Hoffman viciously mounting a surgically sculpted and enhanced Marisa Tomei. Incredibly pasting human flesh flies in every direction-and this my friends is the opening scene. Far too much, far too fast.
The story, despite its enormous praise, is essentially, a modified robbery story in which the crooks are brothers. Andy (Hoffman) and his brother Hank played by the increasingly skeletal Ethan Hawke give excellent performances as the deeply flawed, and in a real sense, brain damaged idiotic duo. Hawke’s physical presence is, of course, enough to scare and scar any human child of the day or even a partially programmed robot. Watching this film I could only reflect on the true terror that would later occur as Hawke was teamed with Kevin Bacon in the “Skull and Skull” movies of the late 2010’s. Few things scare me more than those “Bacon-Hawke buddy movie” remakes of the Crosby-Hope films, but for a Hollywood film system in its death throws, it seemed like a brilliant idea-or so we are told.
In order to say more about this film would be to give away many of its twist and, truth be told, without its handful of twists the film really has nothing new, interesting or thought provoking to say. It is a good film, but just a mediocre script. The script is a slightly novel retelling of a well-established Hollywood film genre-the Heist film. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is well acted by a capable cast, is well shot, but this talent could have been better utilized on a more deserving script.
Who is Kelly Masterson? Well, this information seemed hard to come by for humans of the day and it is unknown to Robot kind even now. This much is certain-Kelly Masterson is the “guy” who somehow talked the well-known Sidney Lumet into directing his (or her as the case may be) script even though Masterson was a total unknown commodity. Oh to know the real story, I suspect it would be more interesting than the tale somewhat adequately woven in the screenplay for Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.
Story (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B (The script is refined enough, just not the brilliance the human critics of the day claimed.)
Acting (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) A (The acting is, at times, as good as the limited humans were capable of delivering.)
Human Portrayal of machines and Robots D (Slaves once more.)
Enjoyability Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B (While most viewers, human and robot alike, have seen all that Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead has to offer, the acting, directing and slight “twist” will keep one attentive.)
Primitive Home Theater/HD Factor B+ (A fine use of primitive high-definition technology. Shot with high-definition camerasBefore the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a good Blu-Ray choice.)
Overall Innovation (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) C+
Overall Grade (Adjusted to Accommodate Human Standards) B
