Review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) by Adam K — 08 Apr 2010
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a wild ride, with an incredible cast and a story that pushes it's characters over the cliff of conscience, all the while maintaining it's reality and humanity.
This is a GRAPHIC, intense, dramatic-family, crime thriller (or as Sidney Lumet suggests, a story that redeems the definition of melodrama).
The two brothers portrayed in this film are capable of feeling emotions rare in modern crime films: grief and remorse - and so much more. Ethan Hawke, Philip S. Hoffman, and Marisa Tomei all arguably give their best performances to date in one of the greatest films of the decade.
I am now officially a student of Sidney Lumet. As Roger Ebert wrote, 'It's wonderful when a director wins a Lifetime Achievement Oscar at 80, and three years later makes one of his greatest achievements.'.
This review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) was written by Adam K on 08 Apr 2010.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead has generally received very positive reviews.
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