Review of Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) by Mimi S — 10 Jun 2014

I usually don't like crime thrillers but much but this one was really shocking and intriguing with great performances from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke. The film is about two brothers, Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke), two brothers who are struggling financially. Andy needs money to flee to Brazil after he faces being in trouble with the law after embezzling money from his boss to support his drug habit and Hank needs the money to pay child support payments which he is lagging behind on. Andy comes up with a plan to rob their parent's jewellery store and insurance will compensate for the stolen items. Hank initially refuses but desperate for the money he decides to go ahead with it. However things go disastrously wrong when Hank hires someone to carry out the robbery for him and his mother gets shot.

I thought this film was so interesting in how it portrays guilt, especially how the brothers experience it both differently. There was some really good character development too; Andy is the the older, domineering and ruthless whilst Hank is well meaning and cowardly. It was interesting to see how both brothers struggled with their guilt, especially Hank, the most reluctant to take part in the scheme. I had little sympathy for either characters as no matter what financial trouble you're in, how could you ever do something like that to your parents or a loved one? It's unforgivable. I really wanted to see how the film would end and if the brothers would get away with what they had done. There were so really good performances from the rest of the cast including Albert Finney, Michael Shannon and Marisa Tomei, who I'm not a fan of but she was decent enough although she only takes her clothes off for most of the time she's in it.

Now getting onto the critical side, this film isn't really my usual type of film and the topic was a bit too gritty and heavy for me; it's quite a bleak film to sit through. It was a really decent watch but not something I'd really watch again. It's not the kind of film I really enjoy nor do I think it's one of Philip Seymour Hoffman's best films. Also it didn't help that I didn't care much for the characters and I had no grain of sympathy for them. I think maybe it's a film that guys will enjoy more, as it's all about crime and have quite a few new scenes. Definitely worth a watch though, but not really my kind of film.

Grade: B-/C+.