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Review: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
The first time you see Andy (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) walk outside his parents house to have what passes for a heart to heart with his old man, it's through the eyes of his wife Gina (Marisa Tomei). It won't be the first time you see this scene, the next time will be outside, and by the time you get to it you won't be frustrated that you didn't see it earlier but relieved that your watching a movie that takes so much time to invest you into the characters, to the point where you don't mind seeing the scenes slowly and surely unraveled throughout the course of the film.

The second time this scene is shown Gina is in the background looking through the window, she hangs over this scene and the rest of the movie as an onlooker. She understands, we think, what is happening around her during the course of the film, but like her were not sure...we just know something is very, very wrong.

Gina and Andy are just two of the great characters in Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead". The latter and his brother, Hank (Ethawn Hawk) are both in need of money for their own reasons. Hank, among other things, needs money to send his young daughter on a class field trip to The Lion King. Hank lives an obviously miserable life, he is a failure to his daughter and his former wife only talks to him when shes asking for the late child support. He seems to mean well, but these things happen. Andy has a lucrative job and a loft high up in a New York sky rise. He has little problem with heroin that only seems to be getting worse. Andy comes up with a plan: but he forces Hank to agree that he'll do it before he tells him what it is. He agrees, and Andy tells him of a little jewelery store that is uncrowded and insured. It's foolproof, but things happens. And that's as far as a credible reviewer can take you, for telling anything more would waste away at least five or seven minutes of suspense; in a movie where every scene is a winner that is too much.

Just know that this is a great film, and Albert Finney plays one of the best roles I've seen in a very long time. The acting throughout is nearly flawless, with Hoffman and Hawk absolutely on fire and Tomei irresistible with and without clothes on, giving a truly great performance. Watch a scene towards the end, her reaction. You'll know it when you see it. And pay attention to Lumet's direction, which is patient enough to let us watch these scenes, helped in no small part by a screenplay that reveals everything exactly at the moment not when you want to, but when you need to.

I can't wait to see "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" again. Yes, I'll know what happens, but I'm eager to revisit the dialog; which if it isn't what people would say in these situations then I don't know what is. And I want to see again how the story unfolds itself, because I have a feeling that after many viewings I still won't know what to expect next.

The film begins with it's only moment of respite. Andy and Gina are making love in Brazil, they lay in bed and wonder aloud why it's never "like this" back home. Then we get a black screen and the old Irish proverb "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows your dead." You'll consider after you finish if some people get that long.

Hillary Clinton on Bill O'Reilly

I kinda hate Bill O'Reilly and I don't really like Hillary Clinton, I'm more of an Obama man myself, but both of them seem to be on a semi coherent level while talking to each other on Fox news. The thing about Bill is that I really can't fault him too much because it seems like he sincerely believes in his bullshit, and at the begginning of this video he really comes off as a rich pompous bastard, complaining about a 6 1/2 tax increase for people making more than $250,000 a year, directly after notifying Hillary that he is a "rich person, like you". Hillary is pretty levelheaded during the whole thing, making Bill look like kinda of a jackass for the first half until they both settle down towards the end, where you can check out Hillary's wicked cackle.

More Carter III News

According to mTV's Mixtape Monday, which seems to just verify almost verified rumors every week, the above cover is definitely the cover to beyond ridiculously anticipated Tha Carter III. This is shocking for one reason: it doesn't fit the theme of Tha Carter I or II whatsoever. It isn't shocking because: It's Lil Wayne, and Universal seems to be letting him do whatever the fuck he wants for this new record, which is awesome. Supposedly second single, Milli, will be the multiply used beat on this one, like C1 and C2 had those little gothic piano interludes. But this time Wayne will be "calling" in to Tha Carter from on the road, and up and coming artist like Corey Gunz (who completely destroys this beat), Lil Mama and Tyga will rap over the beat. This holds steady with my theory that the official version of "Milli" would be the intro to the CD, kind of like Tha Mobb was to Tha Carter II. According to Wayne there will be no leaked material on the CD, which is the reason it was pushed back one final time to June 10th. Wayne also confirmed a guest appearance by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz and Jim Jonsin production, with in house producers such as Deezle and a couple of "suprise" appearances. From past rumors, one can only hope and assume he's talking about Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Polow Da Don.

Everyone is waiting on a classic Weezy, don't let us down now, not after years of brilliant verses and inventive beats.

NEW T.I.- No Matter What

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When T.I. announced late last week that we could be looking out for his new single this week I really had no idea what it might sound like, the end result is better than I could of hoped for. Now don't get me wrong, every time T.I. launches the flagship single off of an album it's a big event, I was one of the people who love "Big Shit Poppin (Do It)", and he comes back hard on this track with a laid back and more measured flow. He sounds defiant, we all knew he wouldn't go to jail for that long, and by the sound of this Paper Trail should be more than enough to hold us off till he gets out. The beat sounds tailor made for T.I., with smooth synths to lead the track in, with synths piling on the beat throughout, a cool little noise that sounds like a squeaky bed during rough sex, and a subtle guitar riff for good measure during the chorus. He seems to be in a contemplative mood, and hes continuing his streak of great verses with his (i'm assuming...it should be) first official single. "I lost my partna and my daughter int he same year, some how i rise above my problems and remain here....wonder how I face problems and still chillin? Easy, let go and let God deal wit it." I have a really good feeling about this one.

Tha Game- 911 Is A Joke (Cop Killa)

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Coming on the heels of the disappointingly Sean Bell verdict The Game bravely copies the title of the classic Public Enemy track to spit some venom over a pretty laid back beat. Game is in top form on this one, it doesn't sound official enough to be on L.A.X., but it's got me even more excited than I already am.

The New Dark Knight Trailer Leaked!!!

Right on the heels of myself finally catching up a little bit from last year and seeing Todd Haynes "I'm Not There" (really, really interesting and...it's awesome) and Sydney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" (fucking incredible) I come back to my dorm and find that the new Dark Knight trailer, which is "officially" premiering this Sunday has leaked. Won't be up for long I bet...no Two Face, but god damn this shit looks insane.