Jesus, ‘Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead’ is a depressing movie. Veteran American filmmaker Sidney Lumet has made a devestating family tragedy from a strong debut screenplay by Kelly Masterton.

The storyline complies with the old adage, that poverty leads to crime. Two brothers. Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke) are hard up for money and in a rut with their lives. Andy comes up with the idea of robbing their parents jewellery store. Andy convinces Hank that the job is a sure thing, and no violence will be needed. Their parents never work in the store, and the takings that they get will keep them off the streets for a long time!

The best laid plans of mice and men can go wrong, and they sure do in ‘Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead’. Hank chickens out of doing the actual robbery and arranges a friend of his to do the robbery. His friend is a bit on the unstable side. When the robbery is carried out, it is Andy and Hank’s mum who is behind the cash register. Their mum puts up a fight, and you can connect the dots from there!

This is such a harsh movie! Albert Finney plays their father who, in the end, cottons to what his sons have done, and is remorseless in his revenge. His performance is just chilling. It sends chills up the spine!

Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent as Andy, a weak, immoral, destructive character. Very selfish and drug addicted, Andy’s decline comes at a rapid pace. Ethan Hawke was good as his inadequate loser brother.

Be warned, there’s nothing at all cutesy pie about ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’. Fierce.