For Goodbyes

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

Director: Sidney Lumet
Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke and Marisa Tomei


Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007) is a scintillating crime drama, a forlorn reflection of its characters repulsive mindsets as a result of their diseased auras which are fed with malignant conceits and ideals. The story is in part simple Andy (Hoffman) is looking for illogically quick answers to complex questions, his life is a dangerous white collar composite of smoke and mirrors, whilst his marriage (to Tomei) is longing for reinvigoration. Together with his equally bedraggled brother (Hawke) Andy plots a heist which involves their parents jewellery store being the Mark. The Caper however is doomed to fail, this is established from the outset, the narrative is delivered through a reconstructed chronology which succeeds in creating a slow burn for the outing of truth and revelation.

This exhibit of skilfully assembled tonal poison and equally dextrous tri-lineal structure was to be director Sidney Lumet last feature before his passing in early 2011. Lumet's, perhaps never repeated the highs of arguably his most celebrated work Dog Day Afternoon (1975) but Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is a fitting last memory of a fine film maker.

8/10

Other notable swan songs.

Steve McQueen – The Hunter (1980) Bounty Hunter Ralph Thorson (McQueen) has a lot on his plate he’s getting too old for his current vocation, his girlfriend is expecting and worst of ALL someone is trying to kill him. Here be the premise for Steve McQueen’s final screen appearance, by no means vintage but respectable punctuation mark on a lasting legacy.

Jack Lemmon - The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000) In his role as narrator it is perhaps fitting that Jack Lemmon would say goodbye using in the main his most salient commodity – His voice. Lemmon’s long and distinguished career saw a series of transformations in appearance but his voice remained at its unmistakeable best to the end warm, glowing, rhythmical with what would become a trademark mid-sentence plunge of pitch.


Marlon Brando – The Score (2001) There is a touch of irony when looking at Brando’s last hurrah, firstly he would appear opposite Robert De Niro with whom he shared Oscar glory for portrayals of the same Vito Corleone character. More sadly though and as shallow as it seems this would act as a sad indictment of how Brando would spend the later portions of his life, unrecognisable from the striking features of his heydays which had subsequently been eroded by a propensity for cake and willingly redundant sense of vanity. In the end The Score is a well worth seeing heist movie, finding pay dirt with its male leads (including Ed Norton) in fine form.

Sergio Leone – Once Upon A Time In America (1984) Leone's parting gift was more than just an epic crime drama telling a vast story spanning 40 years, it indeed may have in some way brought about his end. The energy expended, the tumultuous battle with studio interference in post production and the initial poor reception of the film was said to have damaged and exhausted Leone greatly. Once Upon A Time In America is now however revered as a classic possessing an enigmatic spirit, a transcendence of social and religious theme as well as a stunning operatic grandeur.