Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead (Sidney Lumet, 2007)

WHAT IT IS: A diamond store robbery turned bad leaves two brothers struggling with the consequences of their actions.

HOW IT IS: The non-linear storytelling infuses the film with a kinetic feel and a sense of experimentation, with the story told from the different characters’ points of view. It owes much to predecessors like Rashomon, Citizen Kane or Pulp Fiction. It’s a return for Lumet (Dog’s Day Afternoon) to neo-noir territory. Hawke and Hoffman are consistent as human wrecks, so far over the line of decency and morality that it is barely visible to them anymore.

Although the movie succeeds for most of its running time, it fails to deliver a satisfactory end.

IF YOU LIKE: The Lookout, Dog Day’s Afternoon, Pulp Fiction, Fargo.

More info on IMDB

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Eric Lafalaise

Head Honcho at Red Brand Studios

Eric Lafalaise mostly communicates by writing and telling stories. He is a contributing writer to the Kinoreal film blog, a producer for Red Brand Studios, an artist, a photographer, a tech freak, and an all-around (left-right) brain nut.

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