Sunday, May 25, 2008
TIGHT WHITE COLLAR THRILLER
Today's movie was Sidney Lumet's
Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
“May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead”.
This is one of those movies that has a lot boiling under the surface and it all breaks out in the kind of suspenseful fits and starts that keep you on the edge of your seat.
I was anxious throughout the whole film and really could not see most things coming.
Mr. Lumet, who is 82, keeps us guessing with some false leads and little misdirections so that we don't tumble or even care to.
The acting is superb. Ethan Hawke, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marisa Tomei, Albert (gotta watch him) Finney and Rosemary Harris.
Did I say that this was tightly knit? It almost squeaks.
These are all nice people who have back stories they want no one to know. They live in Westchester County for god's sake.
Secrets are not a good idea. They all come undone sooner or later.
A special word for Ethan Hawke. He could have taken some turns and become just another one of those young male actors who are beautiful and have enough savvy to carry a role. The ones who latch onto the big money with superhero roles and the like and are then burned out by the time they lose their looks and vitality or fall into scandal or addiction.
This guy is the real goods. He inhabits his role in this picture and is a monster. Well, a cowardly, fucked up monster.
He can have a long career into old age. There is always a market for his brand of work. His co star Albert Finney is a good example of this.
Finney just barely caught the good curve in the early days and licked the demons. Now he is still with us working the magic.
He and Hawke are the stars of this thing.
Very good. I would see it again if you served it up for me.
I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5.
