Tödliche entscheidung – before the devil knows you’re dead

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Lumet's final gift

In my opinion, Sidney Lumet doesn't get the credit he deserves .

He's directed films such as 12 Angry Men , Serpico , The Verdict and Network yet when great directors are talked about his name is rarely mentioned and that's just wrong .

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead was Lumet's final film and it proved that even at the age 82 he still could make good movies.

Needing extra cash, two brothers conspire to pull off the perfect, victimless crime. No guns, no violence, no problem. But when an accomplice ignores the rules and crosses the line, his actions trigger a series of events in which no one is left unscathed.

Of course to make a great film you don't just need a brilliant director, you need a great cast too and Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke are perfect as the two brother who are in trouble up to their necks .

The timeline jumps around in a very clever way and thankfully at no time was It confusing.

Hoffmann's performance is extremely intense almost as if he was living that role of a heroin addict . Sadly we know he was as he died 7 years later of an overdose.

This is about how children can let down their parents , when all they have to do is ask for help . Pride before a fall.

I really enjoyed this film . It's not Lumet's best but it's in the top six or seven .

• valleyjohn
• Apr 3, 2021

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