Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelry store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that sends them, their father and one brother's wife hurtling towards a shattering climax.

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writer:

Kelly Masterson

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney

17 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Andy
Ethan Hawke	...	Hank
Albert Finney	...	Charles
Marisa Tomei	...	Gina
Aleksa Palladino	...	Chris
Michael Shannon	...	Dex
Amy Ryan	...	Martha
Sarah Livingston	...	Danielle
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	Bobby
Rosemary Harris	...	Nanette
Blaine Horton	...	Justin
Arija Bareikis	...	Katherine
Leonardo Cimino	...	William
Lee Wilkof	...	Jake
Damon Gupton	...	Doctor

Storyline

Needing extra cash, two brothers conspire to pull off the perfect, victimless crime. No guns, no violence, no problem. But when an accomplice ignores the rules and crosses the line, his actions trigger a series of events in which no one is left unscathed.

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Plot Keywords:

gun | violence | death | sex scene | sibling rivalry | 

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Taglines:

Loyalty. It's all relative.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of strong graphic sexuality, nudity, violence, drug use and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

7h58 ce samedi-là

Filming Locations:

Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$73,837 (USA) (26 October 2007)

Gross:

$7,083,025 (USA) (7 March 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films, Funky Buddha Productions, Unity Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS (as dts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two films released in the same year co-starring Philip Seymour Hoffman which center around sibling relationships. The other is The Savages (2007)

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Goofs

When Charles phones the police department looking for Detective Barrett to check up on his wife's case, the phone is answered by the greeting "22nd Precinct". The 22nd Precinct is the NYPD Central Park Precinct in Manhattan. Follow-up on a case out of Westchester, where the crime took place, would either be a Brooklyn precinct since we learned that Bobby LaSorda was from Red Hook, Brooklyn or with the Midtown North Precinct (also known as the 18th), the home of NYC's diamond district, the most likely known destination for the would-be stolen loot within local NY law enforcement. There would be no reason to phone the Central Park Precinct.

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Quotes

Henry 'Hank' Hanson: You're a prick.
Andrew 'Andy' Hanson: I always was.

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Connections

References King Lear (1983)

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Soundtracks

Carolina Jasmine
(2004)
Written by Steve Koester
Performed by Maplewood
Courtesy of Herr K Songs

User Reviews

More than the sum of its parts

Says Andy: "Nobody gets hurt, everybody wins." Before he says it, we know the opposite is true: Everybody gets hurt, nobody wins. This is a new strand in American movies, or perhaps an old strand brought back at long last. Think "Eastern Promises", "There Will Be Blood", "No Country for Old Men". These movies are dark, serious, extremely well made, and don't care about happy endings. I love them. "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" fits the general description, but creates an atmosphere all its own. Kelly Masterson's debut script is as close as a Hollywood movie will ever get to a Greek tragedy. Paying tribute to fellow veteran director Stanley Donen, Sidney Lumet expertly and soberly turns the sombre story into an outstanding, old school character drama. The opening shots, although of an obese accountant doggy-styling his trophy wife, have the look and feel of a Dutch master's painting. By contrast, the drug dealer's condo looks more like a string of Mondrians. Great performances all around. Only Albert Finney's character Charles feels a little over-acted, eyes wide and mouth agape almost all the time. But then he is in trouble deep, deeper than any of the troubles most of us will ever know. For compensation, Marisa Tomei is super hot. But of course you don't need me to tell you that. Why her character Gina would want to be with a guy like Andy, we're never told, but that's okay. Action is character, after all. The unique and magic touch of Carter Burwell's music makes this fine movie a masterpiece. Don't miss it.