Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei and Albert Finney
Director: Sidney Lumet
Running time: 117 minutes

Garnering rave reviews upon its US release, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a riveting suspense thriller directed by Sidney Lumet, with outstanding performances from a cast that includes Academy Award winners Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei and Academy Award nominees Ethan Hawke and Albert Finney.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead belongs beside such Lumet classics as 12 Angry Men, Network, The Verdict, Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico. Truly one of the world's most intriguing directors, from the unexpectedly graphic opening shot Lumet proves he hasn't lost any of his bite with age.

Working from an intense, expertly woven script by playwright-turned-screenwriter Kelly

Masterson, the story follows a New York family with an undercurrent of dysfunction. Philip Seymour Hoffman is Andy, a frustrated, drug-abusing stockbroker who is unable to satisfy his gorgeous wife. Ethan Hawke is Hank, a passive man who struggles to make alimony payments, and Marisa Tomei is Andy's wife (and Hanks' lover). Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris play the brother's parents, who operate a small jewellery store. All of their lives begin to unravel when Andy approaches Hank about pulling off a heist that will seemingly solve all of their monetary problems. Everything about the idea is risky, yet Andy convinces his timid younger brother that this is his only way out of his current situation. Naturally, their plan falls apart, resulting in a series of tragedies that they never could have predicted.

Seymour Hoffman is Andy, a frustrated, drug-abusing stockbroker who is unable to satisfy his gorgeous wife. Ethan Hawke is Hank, a passive man who struggles to make alimony payments, and Marisa Tomei is Andy's wife (and Hanks' lover). Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris play the brother's parents, who operate a small jewellery store. All of their lives begin to unravel when Andy approaches Hank about pulling off a heist that will seemingly solve all of their monetary problems. Everything about the idea is risky, yet Andy convinces his timid younger brother that this is his only way out of his current situation. Naturally, their plan falls apart, resulting in a series of tragedies that they never could have predicted.

"Working with the startlingly talented new screenwriter Kelly Masterson, Lumet fuses dark wit, suspense and tragedy into a time-shifting movie that vibrates with energy." Rolling Stone

"83-year-old Mr. Lumet, who has handled such immortals as Brando and Magnani in his career, expertly extracts individually charismatic performances from Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Hawke, Mr. Finney, Ms. Harris and Ms. Tomei." New York Observer

"This flick is fast and ferocious, [Lumet's] sharpest and best since Prince of the City -and surely one of the year's finest." New York Post

DVD Extras:
The Making Of, audio commentary with Sidney Lamet, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke & The List; the short film directorial debut from award winning actor Joel Edgerton.

RRP: $39.95


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