There may be very little that is nice about the people in this ferocious family film from Lumet but it’s awfully nice to see him pull it off this late in the game.
Comment
01/01/08
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
88
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:156
Fresh:137
Rotten:19
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: A tense and effective thriller, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead marks a triumphant return to form for director Sidney Lumet.
Rated: 15 [See Full Rating]
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Genre: Family Interaction, Thriller, Infidelity, Theatrical Release, Brothers, Affairs
Theatrical Release:11-01-2008
Synopsis: From the unexpectedly graphic opening shot, director Sidney Lumet proves he hasn't lost any of his bite with age. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD is a riveting suspense thriller that retains the... [More]
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney
Director: Sidney Lumet
Reviews for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead is an insightful, incisive lesson in potential. Every frame oozes desperation and there is always a plan being concocted.
12/31/07
I want Albert Finney's Lincoln Town Car.
12/31/07
Unfortunately, like Andy's character, the parts don't add up.
12/25/07
Lumet's "Network" earned an incredible five acting nominations come Oscar time (three wins) and I wouldn't be surprised to see "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" earn a solid four.
12/15/07
It's powerfully crafted, intensely paced and brilliantly acted from all involved players, and a film that's easily [Lumet's] best since Network.
12/14/07
A miserable, dejected little flick.
12/12/07
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is kinetic. It's dynamite laced with electricity. It's a perfectly played puzzle that's final images make for an astoundingly satisfying statement.
12/06/07
[T]he bleak movie remains tense, interesting and unpredictable throughout.
12/04/07
The real kudos should go to screenwriter Kelly Masterson, who provocatively mixed a crime drama premise into a film exploring the legacy of damage family members impose upon one another.
12/02/07
...echoes of Sophoclean tragedy ... and the Old Testament
11/30/07
Lumet moves Devil with a purpose, all the while maintaining a firm grip on his live-wire cocktail of guilt and paranoia.
11/29/07
As the Shadow used to say, the weed of crime bears bitter fruit, and Lumet has made a delicious pie out of it.
11/28/07
One of the pleasures of "Devil" is watching what a classic, old-school director Lumet is, focusing intensely on character and staging rather than relying on fast edits or visual trickery.
11/23/07
While Masterson's script might come up a hair short, Lumet remains firmly in control: Even at 83, there's nothing arthritic about his ability to engage our emotions or our intellect.
11/22/07
Hawke, in particular, puts on a blistering show of flustered regret.
11/22/07
Lumet navigates the shifting narrative nimbly, and effortlessly handles the plot twists and emotional beats with equal precision.
11/21/07
The film has some powerful drama with Philip Seymour Hoffman turning in a superb performance. But the tone is relentlessly downbeat.
11/21/07
A darkly realistic vision of extraordinary power.
11/20/07
[A] sly, nasty casualness... takes [it] into a realm of mopey genius...
11/19/07
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December 17, 2007:
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