Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Director Sidney Lumet certainly does not betray his considerable age with this tragic but relevant tale. Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrific as usual (playing an unlikeable but not entirely unsympathetic character) and is supported by some strong work from Ethan Hawke and Albert Finney. For those who have been looking forward to seeing Marisa Tomei in a mature role sans clothing, this movie will not disappoint. I was very glad to see that the director kept the gunfire to a minimum in this story, which meant that each shot fired had significance because its consequence could be seen and felt. At my screening, the killing of an unconscious bystander drew gasps from the crowd and a shocked 'WTF' comment from the friend with whom I went to see this film. Kudos to Lumet for making the audience react to a single shot, which is no mean feat considering how cavalier Hollywood is about gunplay in cinema and how audiences have become desensitized to characters being gunned down. People who enjoy crime thrillers or capers should note that Lumet makes a strong moral statement with this tale and that things don't end well for anybody. If that's not the type of story you enjoy, you may want to pass on this movie. If you like 'old school' films that are strong on characterization and plot and actually something to say about human nature and society, then you'll definitely want to check out this movie.