Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

Truly the worst movie I've ever seen in a theater

Awesome Movie

A different way of telling a story

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Kelly Masterson's first screenplay describes the circumstances that lead two brothers into carrying out a particularly diabolical crime and then provides a harrowing account of its unintended consequences. By making the nature of the crime unusual and keeping the spotlight on its flawed characters, Masterson also makes his story less predictable than most "heist gone wrong" thrillers and increases the dramatic impact of the crime's tragic repercussions.Andy Hanson (Philip Seymour-Hoffman), a payroll executive who works for a real estate company, maintains an outward appearance of having everything under control but is, in fact, in a state of deep despair. With a dysfunctional marriage, an expensive drug habit and debts that he's tried to service by embezzling money from his employers, he dreams of escaping to live in Brazil. This isn't possible in his current circumstances and to make matters worse, an audit being carried out at his workplace is soon guaranteed to uncover the extent to which he's been cooking the books. The only way he can think of to get out of his predicament involves robbing a jewellery store and in order to do this, he needs the assistance of his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke).Hank, who works at the same company as Andy, is also in a state of desperation for different reasons. He's divorced and deeply in debt because his child support payments and contributions to his daughter's education have left him with virtually nothing to live on. Andy tells Hank that what he's planned is the perfect crime because the jewellery store is a relatively soft target which will only be staffed by a single employee early on a Saturday morning and it's also a victim-less crime because, to his certain knowledge, the store is well insured and so the proprietors won't suffer any financial losses. Furthermore, as no guns would be needed for this kind of caper, no-one should get hurt. Hank, who's a more anxious person than his brother, is jittery as he listens to the plan and his natural reluctance to get involved gets stronger when Andy discloses that the store he's got in mind to rob, is their parents' business which is located in a Westchester shopping mall.Hank is persuaded to go ahead with the robbery (which he's supposed to carry out on his own) but not having the stomach for the job, hires a local thug to help him. For a variety of reasons, the heist goes horribly wrong resulting in a fatality and the brothers failing to profit financially. There are also, however, other consequences that soon prove to be even more devastating.Masterson's skilfully-written work benefits enormously from Sidney Lumet's decision to unfold the story through a series of flashbacks, flash-forwards and actions being shown from multiple viewpoints. Moreover, by utilising this method, the legendary director brings out considerably more substance in terms of the characters and their motivations in a way that's not only entertaining to watch but also cleverly avoids slowing down the action.The acting performances in this movie are exceptional with the entire cast obviously having a full understanding of the characters involved. Inevitably though, its Philip Seymour-Hoffman and Ethan Hawke whose contributions remain the most memorable, primarily because of the importance of their characters but also because of the subtlety with which they're portrayed. Albert Finney and Michael Shannon are also electrifying in their important supporting roles.

When you have a director with a fine back catalogue, some decent actors and decent budget you reckon you'll get something good. Doesn't always happen that way. This is a clunking pile of how not to make a movie. None of the characters are in any way credible; the plot line never holds up as there is no believable backstory. Why are they so messed up? Why is one derange by stress and the other driven to drugs and fraud? Why the hell would Andy's two dimensional wife have an affair with the mental brother? The storyline is so predictable even the Simpson's wouldn't bother parodying it. Sometimes a movie is so bad its laughable, but this just a waste of talent.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Two brothers plan to rob their own parents' jewelery store but things go horribly wrong. The plot seems apt for a thriller or for a crime comedy filled with black humor but director Sydney Lumet takes the difficult path of making it a dark emotional drama. Sydney uses the non-linear narration and unpredictability of events that keeps you interested. Philip Seymour Hoffman playing the no nonsense elder brother shows some solid acting. He uses his body language to express his pain and anger. Ethan Hawke playing the younger brother also does not disappoint. Albert Finney playing the role of father leaves a lasting impression in his short but important role. Movie loses some brownie points by getting too slow at times and too dark to enjoy. However, if you are still interested in going through a dark emotional crime drama then this one is a perfect fit. I am going with 7 out of 10 for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. It's a nice old school dark drama worth trying once.

The description of this movie, The perfect crime goes horribly wrong for brothers Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) when they botch a robbery of their parents jewelry store in this wrenching drama from legendary filmmaker Sidney Lumet, who was 82 when he directed the film., is accurate in one sense: something does horribly goes wrong as the viewer is forced to watch, in the opening sequence, Phillip Seymour Hoffman perform in a copulation scene. I couldn't finish the scene, therefore I couldn't finish the movie. Call me a prude if you wish but I think it significantly detracts from the dignity of an otherwise fine actor. Why did he stoop to do it? He has fame, presumably money, and the admiration of the public (now sans myself). So presumably he hasn't yet been photographed straddling, walrus-like, some young woman? Im too dull to figure it out and will contentedly remain so. As far as I can tell from the plot description, the scene was entirely gratuitous perhaps satisfying some, as yet, unclassified lust in the aging Sidney Lumet.