This is no nostalgia trip taken by an 83-year-old director. It's a fierce, hot slap of a movie, a shameless melodrama with bite.
Comment
11/02/07
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
101 - 120 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Top CriticSidney Lumet makes his best movie in ages, a crackerjack crime thriller that goes for the jugular.
11/02/07
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, the expertly acted story of two brothers and a con gone very wrong, is full of clever little tricks.
11/02/07
Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can.
11/02/07
Top CriticThis ambitious and well-directed crime thriller, with an intricate flashback structure redolent of Reservoir Dogs, gives Philip Seymour Hoffman a fascinatingly ambiguous character to work with.
11/02/07
Lumet's latest proves as riveting and ambitious as any of his best work.
11/02/07
...like being trapped in a closet with your greatest regrets.
11/02/07
Somehow, Lumet and his expert cast are able to make his shady characters compelling even though these folks might pause for only a passing thought before stabbing each other in the back, literally.
11/02/07
Lumet's film is a stunner.
11/02/07
From start to finish, "Before The Devil Knows You're Dead" is an absolute knockout and can already be ranked as one of the pinnacles of the long and reasonably distinguished career of Sidney Lumet.
11/01/07
A sharply acted and highly entertaining morality play.
11/01/07
Top CriticBefore 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
Lumet directs the script with the actor-centered efficiency that has served him well over a surprising array of projects.
11/01/07
In addition to being a study in great acting, this is a study in great directing. Filming with high-definition digital video cameras, Lumet weaves in and out of the action, proving to be as adroit with new technology as he was with old-school celluloid.
11/01/07
Top Critic... some first-rate surprises and a bundle of good performances.
11/01/07
A moody, expertly-crafted combination of crime story and domestic drama with a superb ensemble cast.
10/31/07
...nothing more than a perfunctory thriller...
10/30/07
The last 15 minutes of this film had me shaking my head in disbelief. Yet I found myself thinking about the performances, the tone, the perfection in certain scenes, long after the movie was over.
10/29/07
Top Critic...as Andy and Hank stumble into the jaws of an unforgiving fate, we realize we've been in the hands of a master director who's never really gotten his due.
10/29/07
Sidney Lumet succeeds in affording Greek-tragic undertones to his crime movie.
10/27/07
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...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland 
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds