IN THEATERS
ON DVD
OTHER
ON TV
TO THEATERS
TO THEATERS
TO DVD
« Forums open! | Main | ‘V-DAY’ brings stars to New Orleans »
Yet another ‘Before the Devil’ review
By Lisa | November 17, 2007
From capecodonline.com
There’s more than a bit of Shakespearean tragedy in “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” the new crime thriller from veteran director Sidney Lumet (”Dog Day Afternoon,” “Serpico”).
Two brothers, driven by financial pressures, feelings of inadequacy and who knows what else, embark on a heist they figure to be a victimless crime. Only it doesn’t turn out that way. And what results is a whirlpool of circumstances that send everyone down the drain.
It’s painful to watch, yet remarkable in at least one way: The performances, particularly by the two male leads, are magnificent.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, arguably the best film actor of the past decade (I’d certainly argue that), gives a towering performance as the older brother, Andy, the brains behind the scheme who struggles to maintain control of his world, which has gone spinning off its axis. You can see the wheels turning as Andy plots, yet you get the sense that the wheels aren’t turning too quickly: It’s a mystery whether he’ll pull all of this off. Meanwhile, he’s often passive — which frustrates his bored wife (Marisa Tomei, who seems to get better with every role) — but occasionally erupts with emotion, a combination of hurt, frustration and rage.
Ethan Hawke gives a performance that practically leaps off the screen as younger brother Hank. Cowardly, over-his-head Hank sweats and twitches in fear and agitation as he allows Andy to lure him into the plot and then suffers the consequences, in large part because of his own weakness and ineptitude.
Watching Hoffman and Hawke work together is a particular treat. They have the whole older brother/younger brother dynamic down, with Andy exercising an almost parental power as a given and knowing how to push his sibling’s buttons, and there are moments where, even though they both know they’re discussing a dangerous proposition, they both chuckle like bad-boy conspirators planning a naughty prank.
Along with Tomei, strong support is provided by Albert Finney as the brothers’ harsh father, who in addition to playing a key role in what transpires in the plot, has clearly been an enormous influence on who the brothers are and what they do.
If I’ve concentrated on the performances here, it’s for a reason. Despite the way the film plays with time, leaping back and forth in a manner befitting a Quentin Tarantino or Steven Soderbergh (think “Out of Sight”) thriller, the portrayals overshadow the story structure, which actually seems unnecessarily jumpy. This is a character-driven heist picture that’s as much concerned with the why as the what. And when you have actors like Hoffman and Hawke — and Tomei and Finney — as those characters, you’ve got a tremendous advantage.
More like this...
Expert from an article about Sidney Lumet on November 14th, 2007
The "Alternative Oscars" on February 17th, 2008
Tomei asks parents to avoid her next movie on October 22nd, 2007
Topics: 'Before the Devil', Articles & Reviews |