Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (2007); crime drama film review

Poster artwork for the crime drama thriller film Before The Devil Knows You're Dead.

Devilish Deeds by Linh

Director Sidney Lumet's latest crime thriller borrows the name and theme from the Irish proverb "May you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you're dead." Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead is one of Lumet’s best directorial work and Kelly Masterson's excellent script combines intricately woven plots and interlaced flashbacks with a brilliant cast who brings bravado and energy to characters with few redeeming qualities. The flashbacks are cleverly presented out of sequence and relates to a particular character; with each flashback labelled as before the robbery, the day of the robbery and days after the robbery.

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead leaves the viewer breathless during some scenes and shocked during others, yet one never feels much sympathy for any of the characters. The opening scene shows Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei, who play husband and wife Andrew and Gina Hanson, naked and performing an explicit sex act. They seem an unlikely pair with the hint that their marriage is in shambles. This scene is only the first piece of the bewildering puzzle and just the beginning of Andrew Hanson’s problems.

Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman is wonderfully convincing as the flawed and desperate Andrew Hanson who is defrauding his company, addicted to drugs and devises a plan to commit a robbery with his younger brother Hank.

Ethan Hawke gives a strong performance as the soft-hearted and gutless wonder Hank Hanson who’s estranged from his wife and teenage daughter, has numerous debts to pay and unwittingly agrees to his brother’s robbery plan.

In a commanding yet understated portrayal of Charles Hanson, father of Andrew and Hank, Albert Finney is a stand out. Finney provides Charles with the simmering rage underneath the calm composure despite being hell bent on revenge, even when he discovers the identity of the one responsible for his wife’s death is closer to home.

Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead succeeds in bringing rivetting performances, compelling moments featuring murder, adultery, drugs and revenge to create a meticulously crafted masterpiece.

DEVIOUS DUO: Andrew Hanson (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank Hanson (Ethan Hawke) discover their Mother is in a coma in Before The Devil Knows You're Dead. Image: Will Hart, ThinkFilm.

Director: Sidney Lumet

Writers: Kelly Masterson (screenplay)

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Rosemary Harris, Sarah Livingston, Aleksa Palladino

Producers: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, William S. Gilmore, Paul Parmar, Hannah Leader, Jane Barclay, Sam Zaharis, Carol Cuddy, Belle Avery, Jeffery Melnick, Jeff G. Waxman, Eli Klein, David Bergstein, J. J. Hoffman, Guy Pham, Austin Chick

Cinematographer: Ron Fortunato (Director of Photography)

Original Music Composer: Carter Burwell

Film Editor: Tom Swartwout

Production: Christopher Nowak (Production Designer), Wing Lee (Art Director), Diane Lederman (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Tina Nigro

Running Time: 2 hours