Review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) by Fdt44 — 11 Feb 2011
Another installment in the POV thriller, this one, packing more emotion and melodramatic "fluff" than anything seen on "General Hospital." The plot is innately simple and intriguing, but is suddenly contrived with non-linearity.
On the upside, however, each scene is shot delicately, drawing great amounts of real-life feeling. Seymour delivers his usual, banal acting job, bailed out only by solid writing. The real firmness and direction is lead by Finney, whose genuinately is more than able and deserving.
As for Tomei...well, what you see is what you get. Don't let me stray you from thinking any differently, the film is very well done: methodical, concise, and enlivening. The subtle undertones and suggestions are superb, the anticipation is live, the direction is vague, and the irony is delicious.
The biggest quandary, though, Hollywood's obsession to aggrandize...I guess simpler isn't always better...
This review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) was written by Fdt44 on 11 Feb 2011.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead has generally received very positive reviews.
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