Hoffman’s brilliant in this nailbiting thriller and character study.
Comment
03/19/08
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
88
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:156
Fresh:137
Rotten:19
Average Rating:7.7/10
Consensus: A tense and effective thriller, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead marks a triumphant return to form for director Sidney Lumet.
Australian Rating: MA15+ [See Full Rating]
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Genre: Family Interaction, Thriller, Infidelity, Theatrical Release, Brothers, Affairs
Australian Theatrical Release:
Mar 20, 2008 Wide
US Box Office: $6,955,841
Synopsis: From the unexpectedly graphic opening shot, director Sidney Lumet proves he hasn't lost any of his bite with age. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD is a riveting suspense thriller that retains the... [More]
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney
Director: Sidney Lumet
Reviews for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
Top CriticConceptually bold and unnervingly suspenseful, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is one of the best films Lumet has directed in a very long and at times uneven career.
03/19/08
Top CriticA marvellous film, filled with tension, drama and emotional angst
03/16/08
Top CriticClick to read the article
03/21/08
Top CriticIn a way Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is like watching a car crash %u2014 you want to look away, but something compels you to try and take in all the gory details.
11/17/07
He’s 83 years old and still has the vitality and lust to make a terrific heist-gone-bad movie!
11/11/07
Lumet's movie is about people rather than jewels or guns. And, at 83, he knows a thing or two about people.
10/25/07
Superior fare, packed with insight and suspense.
01/11/08
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is another convincing argument that early retirement is not always a good idea for a master filmmaker. This is an adrenaline-pumping, devilishly well-made thriller set against the downfall of an American family.
11/01/07
Director Sidney Lumet digs deep into the tawdry souls, peeling back the layers of arrogance and anger and self-delusion until all that's left is fury and fear and hate.
05/03/08
Lumet's rejection of despair and cynicism despite the grimness of the events he depicts ('Fail-Safe' ends with the obliteration of New York) and his refusal to disrespect the intelligence of his audience seem more valuable every day.
11/16/07
Just when Lumet starts to build some decent tension, he cuts back, losing the suspense and replacing it with a rehash of what we've already seen.
11/15/07
This is not classic Sidney Lumet, but it's ample evidence that after more than 40 years working in this business, the director is still capable of crafting an entertaining and thought provoking motion picture.
10/24/07
Proving why he's still an American classic, 83-year-old director Sidney Lumet turns in another brilliantly executed crime thriller
11/11/07
In its relentless and uncompromising nastiness, cold-sweat tension and fear, its serious engagement with the idea of evil and sin and finally in the way it evolves, persuasively, into a kind of contemporary family tragedy, this is in a different league.
01/11/08
Top CriticBefore The Devil Knows You're Dead plays around a bit with time and perception, and the story unfolds at a tremendous clip. The movie is not without its share of black humour, but it's an exercise in violence and adrenalin. And tragedy.
11/16/07
Gives a crackerjack cast some fine characters and dialogue to tussle with.
11/07/07
While Masterson's script might come up a hair short, Lumet remains firmly in control: Even at 83, there's nothing arthritic about his ability to engage our emotions or our intellect.
11/22/07
A tense crime thriller directed by Sidney Lumet that explores the dark side of sibling rivalry.
10/08/07
Si William Shakespeare viviera y fuera guionista, el resultado podría ser algo bastante parecido a esto.
10/12/08
Latest News for Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
April 14, 2008:
RT on DVD: Juno, AVP2, and Dungeon Siege
If you're not sick of hearing Diablo Cody this, hamburger phone that, then this week's bonus-packed release of Juno should be numero uno on your list, home skillet. Otherwise,... More...
March 07, 2008:
Paper Magazine Compiles Top Ten Worst Nude Scenes of All Time
Nude scenes: we love them. Well, most of the time, anyway. More...
December 17, 2007:
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Dexter Make AFI's 2007 Best-Of List
If there's one thing the American Film Institute loves, it's a list -- and with the end of 2007 rapidly approaching, you know what that means: It's time to run down the AFI's... More...
December 14, 2007:
Atonement, Control Lead London Film Critics Noms
The London Critics Circle has announced the nominees for its year-end awards, with Anton Corbijn's Control and Joe Wright's Atonement leading the pack at eight nominations apiece. More...
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