Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
My wife and I were talking the other day about which actor may have had the best decade. One of the contenders was Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He shined in several films this decade (Almost Famous, Punch Drunk Love, Owning Mahoney, The Savages … just to name a few), winning a well deserved Oscar for his role in Capote. I’ll take his role in this film over any previously mentioned. He, and the rest of the cast (Hawke, Tomei, Finney) shine under the brilliant direction of Sidney Lumet, who at 83 made his greatest film since The Verdict (a must see for Newman’s spectacular performance as a down-on-his luck, alcoholic lawyer seeking redemption).
Here we have family dysfunction at its finest. Two brothers (Hoffman and Hawke) organize what they envision as a simple robbery … of their parents’ jewelry store. Needless to say the heist goes terribly wrong, and what ensues is a set of tragic events that build to a shattering climax.
This film didn’t receive the commercial appeal it deserved (hence the best independent film of the decade). I can’t praise this film enough. Hoffman is at the top of his game, and even Hawke turns in a memorable performance. Tomei is smashing in her few scenes (and a bit nude for those wondering). However, as I mentioned earlier, this film is Lumet’s throughout. I’d recommend you view this and Dog Day Afternoon for a Lumet heist double-header. The two compliment each other well.
My wife and I were talking the other day about which actor may have had the best decade. One of the contenders was Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He shined in several films this decade (Almost Famous, Punch Drunk Love, Owning Mahoney, The Savages … just to name a few), winning a well deserved Oscar for his role in Capote. I’ll take his role in this film over any previously mentioned. He, and the rest of the cast (Hawke, Tomei, Finney) shine under the brilliant direction of Sidney Lumet, who at 83 made his greatest film since The Verdict (a must see for Newman’s spectacular performance as a down-on-his luck, alcoholic lawyer seeking redemption).
Here we have family dysfunction at its finest. Two brothers (Hoffman and Hawke) organize what they envision as a simple robbery … of their parents’ jewelry store. Needless to say the heist goes terribly wrong, and what ensues is a set of tragic events that build to a shattering climax.
This film didn’t receive the commercial appeal it deserved (hence the best independent film of the decade). I can’t praise this film enough. Hoffman is at the top of his game, and even Hawke turns in a memorable performance. Tomei is smashing in her few scenes (and a bit nude for those wondering). However, as I mentioned earlier, this film is Lumet’s throughout. I’d recommend you view this and Dog Day Afternoon for a Lumet heist double-header. The two compliment each other well.
PS Love the movie poster!
No comments:
Post a Comment