Review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) by William M — 14 Jun 2009
Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is one of the best crime/dramas of recent times and shows why Sidney Lumet is one of the best and most versatile directors of all time. It also shows that 50 years after the masterpiece 12 Angry Men, that must be one of the best debut films of all time, he can still make a fantastic film and that is an astonishing achievment, seeing as he was 83 when he made this.
The film is very well made. It is shot with prestine precision with some of the best editing I have ever seen. The directing shows why Lumet is one of my favourite directors. It showcases the events on display unflinchingly and boldly.
The screenplay here is fantastic. Both the plot and the actual script are all perfect, and it brings an original side to he bank heist tale. It brings emotion, much like Dog Day Afternoon, another Lumet film made 32 years before this, did. Lumet handles this very well and some scenes involve such interesting development of character, rarely seen in thrillers seen today.
The performances are all amazing. This is the first Ethan Hawke film I have seen and he impressed me. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, taking on a much different role than usual, shows that he is a brilliant actor and can portray many different characters.
I must say that this one one of the best films of the 00's and is without a doubt one of the best films made in 2007.
This review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) was written by William M on 14 Jun 2009.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead has generally received very positive reviews.
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