Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Hardly a feel good movie, this film kept me on the edge of my seat for the full 2 hours. Gripping portrait of things just getting worse and worse, as people make bad decisions hoping for a way out of their troubles. The story as advertised is exactly correct - a brothers' robbery of their parents' store goes horribly wrong, creating a cascade of more and more horrible situations. In the end, none of the men are without a healthy portion of culpability (strangely, the women are primarily victims here, although the men bear a hefty share of the burden too). Great performances all around. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is exceptional as the slick older brother slipping into the abyss, the architect of this entire tragedy. Most of the other cast is also good, although Albert Finney's father is nothing particularly deep. I found Ethan Hawke to be a bit unbelievable as the naive baby brother, but could certainly feel his desparation at wanted to be better that he is (but he is certainly no saint, so sympathy is limited). The script and the look of the film are exceptional - tight dialogue and editing, great use of time jumping to introduce the elements of the story at just the right time. I can't say I enjoyed the film, it certainly doesn't provide any uplifting message, just a warning that it doesn't work to try to correct your life's messes by making things messier - kind of like digging a hole in the sand on the beach: the water just keeps getting deeper.

- ROBYN

OK, reading those comments, I was almost convinced we'd seen different movies... I didn't really like much about this movie. It didn't grab me, I didn't feel any growing tension or dread, instead I fidgeted and kept looking at my watch. Philip Seymour Hoffman was good, but too similar to the conniving scoundrel of Owning Mahowney and Punch Drunk Love. Ethan Hawke was pretty good as the weaselly no-good younger brother, but I didn't really sympathize with his desperation (months behind on child support? what a jerk!)

I thought the time-shifting storyline was used quite ineffectively. Starting with a climactic moment and then back-tracking to show the build-up - it actually was not that straightforward - jumping back and forth in time with each character's perspective - I didn't feel that any useful insight to the characters or plot was gained by this. When the story finally catches up to the opening moment, we've seen enough screw-ups by the brothers that there's no hope of positive outcome. The ending leaves some things unresolved, but I was just glad it was over.

Two final complaints (caution: spoiler ahead!): it's impossible that the cops didn't catch up to the brothers in the first day! A robber is shot dead, no escape vehicle on site, but last seen just prior coincidentally and uncharacteristically with the son of the jewellery store's owner? Hello!!?! And then there's Marisa Tomei - the character isn't much to speak of, but there are numerous nude scenes, it's like she was attracted to the part because it was a chance to remind the world that she has nice boobs. (She does, but please woman show some respect for yourself!)

- JODI