A final masterpiece of tension from director Sidney Lumet, released in 2007
In short: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a nonlinear crime thriller that explores family dysfunction and criminal ineptitude. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke, the film was the last directed by Sidney Lumet before his 2011 death, earning universal acclaim for its intricate, suspenseful, and masterfully controlled narrative structure.
The film centers on Andy Hanson, a payroll manager facing an audit for embezzlement, who convinces his brother Hank to rob their parents' jewelry store. Andy frames the heist as a victimless crime, but the plan spirals into tragedy when their mother, Nanette, intervenes and is killed in a shootout with the accomplice. This event shatters the family, leaving their father, Charles, obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the crime.
Lumet utilized a nonlinear narrative, repeatedly revisiting scenes from different perspectives to heighten the tension. The production was notable for its use of the Panavision Genesis digital camera system, a choice Lumet made after experimenting with high-definition video on the series 100 Centre Street. He famously predicted that digital projection would eventually render traditional photographic film obsolete, a sentiment he shared at the 2007 New York Film Festival.
The film's reception was overwhelmingly positive, with an 86 out of 100 score on Metacritic and an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the ensemble cast, which won awards from the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Gotham Independent Film Awards, and the Satellite Awards. Richard Schickel of Time magazine ranked it the third-best film of 2007, while Roger Ebert awarded it four stars, labeling Lumet a living treasure.
The title is derived from an Irish saying about reaching heaven before the devil realizes one is dead. The story concludes with a final, dark confrontation between the brothers and their father, Charles, who ultimately takes justice into his own hands. The film grossed over US$25 million worldwide and remains a testament to Lumet's ability to extract powerful performances, including a notable scene where Marisa Tomei helped Philip Seymour Hoffman overcome his inhibitions during a difficult shoot.
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