Movie Review - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead A jigsaw quite often isn’t complete until all the pieces are in place and the final picture is revealed. “Before the devil knows you’re dead” is just like that. Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney and Marissa Tomei in a formidable ensemble cast, “Before the devil knows you’re dead” uses forward and backward time sequences to complete the jigsaw. Andrew Hanson [Phillip Seymour Hoffman] and his brother Hank [Ethan Hawke] hatch a plan to rob their parents’ jewellery store to fund their excessive debt. The well thought out plan goes terribly wrong with both finding themselves in a situation that triggers a series of events that send them, Andy’s wife, Gina,[Marissa Tomei], and their father Charles Hanson [Albert Finney] towards a dramatic and unsuspecting finale. By using the time sequences, Director Sidney Lumet tells the tale with masterful strokes. Different camera angles of the same scene replayed add further to the suspense slowly giving clues to the audience. To dwell on the plot would spoil it for possible viewers - it is a movie to be experienced with out pre-knowledge. Cinematography is brilliant with differing angles, long sweeping shots juxtapositioned with intense close-ups all add to the suspense and the revelationary nature of each scene. This is supported by a brilliant score that does not in anyway over power the plot nor the brilliant acting. This is one movie that will make my DVD collection when it is released.