....and really liked it.
Directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Amy Ryan and Albert Finney.
Made by a master director with a great cast, I think this movie is as good as they write 'em, act 'em and make 'em and I certainly recommend it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292963/
Another fairly recent movie that I found similarly emotionally compelling and as interestingly raw as this one is "Once Were Warriors," which I also recommend.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110729/
The story in each of these films builds up, so be patient while that happens because the payoffs are worth it.
There's enough good acting, action, sex and suspense to entertain you until things amp up with ever increasing rapidity.
In the commentary Lumet explains that "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is neither a thriller nor a caper flick, although elements of those genres are there.
It's actually a melodrama, so learn as I did what that means and what that genre really is.
Soap operas are usually overacted melodramas; this flick, however, is a well done melodrama with a good script, fine acting, nice cinematography and superb direction
In a drama that's a crime thriller or caper flick, as Lumet explains, the characters determine the story.
In a melodrama, the story determines the characters.
And the heightened drama in a melodrama is theatrical in a good way.
So a movie melodrama like this one is a modern example of Greek tragedy, wherein the characters can't see what the gods or fate have in store and can't escape once they're caught up in it.
Check either of these films out unless you require happy endings.
Gig 'em, FAST FRED '65.
Before the internet, village idiots usually stayed in their own village.
[This message has been edited by FAST FRED (edited 4/16/2008 9:29p).]
Directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Amy Ryan and Albert Finney.
Made by a master director with a great cast, I think this movie is as good as they write 'em, act 'em and make 'em and I certainly recommend it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292963/
Another fairly recent movie that I found similarly emotionally compelling and as interestingly raw as this one is "Once Were Warriors," which I also recommend.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110729/
The story in each of these films builds up, so be patient while that happens because the payoffs are worth it.
There's enough good acting, action, sex and suspense to entertain you until things amp up with ever increasing rapidity.
In the commentary Lumet explains that "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is neither a thriller nor a caper flick, although elements of those genres are there.
It's actually a melodrama, so learn as I did what that means and what that genre really is.
Soap operas are usually overacted melodramas; this flick, however, is a well done melodrama with a good script, fine acting, nice cinematography and superb direction
In a drama that's a crime thriller or caper flick, as Lumet explains, the characters determine the story.
In a melodrama, the story determines the characters.
And the heightened drama in a melodrama is theatrical in a good way.
So a movie melodrama like this one is a modern example of Greek tragedy, wherein the characters can't see what the gods or fate have in store and can't escape once they're caught up in it.
Check either of these films out unless you require happy endings.
Gig 'em, FAST FRED '65.
Before the internet, village idiots usually stayed in their own village.
[This message has been edited by FAST FRED (edited 4/16/2008 9:29p).]