A good family should protect us from harm, but in Sidney Lumet’s last film, it may turn out to be a place where our flaws find shelter. In this picture, the director focuses on the tragic story of two brothers so obsessed with success and financial well-being that they decided to commit a crime against their own parents. ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead‘ stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose performance is considered one of the best in the history of cinema.
As Andy Hanson in the film, Hoffman plays a psychologically unstable character, terrified of his failures. Together with Ethan Hawke, he shows the most painful aspects of sibling relationships.
Sidney Lumet Reveals Fissures In Middle-class Family Through Crime Drama Lens
It looks like ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead‘ was created according to the classic template used in all crime thrillers. Andy and Hank Hanson are two financially insecure men willing to rob the jewelry store owned by their father to receive insurance money.
However, what makes the film unique is that Lumet reveals the terrible psychological effects this crime has on the main characters and their close relatives.
Thus, the robbery becomes secondary in the plot, as the movie dwells on the psychological trauma caused by financial instability and emotional emptiness in people’s lives.
One cannot ignore the structure of ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead‘ that makes this film a true masterpiece of its genre. The plot is divided into several parts describing the same moments from different points of view.
The viewer slowly understands that tragedy in the movie will be inevitable, but its real horror is the way it happened. There is nobody in the film who did not contribute to the catastrophe to some degree, as everyone was selfish and afraid of exposing themselves to public scrutiny.
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The movie seems really modern, as it is devoted to the issue of the middle-class crisis, which can easily push ordinary people to take extreme measures.
The main characters are not professional thieves but two men who try to maintain the facade of a happy family, although they are suffocated by debt and alcohol abuse.
In such a way, Lumet destroys the stereotype of a crime thriller, showing the main characters as broken individuals who have been pushed to desperation. The film depicts the price people have to pay for their material success.
Why Andy Hanson Remains One Of The Darkest Characters In Modern Cinema
Philip Seymour Hoffman delivered one of the most powerful performances in the movie. Playing Andy Hanson, the talented actor managed to convey all the nuances of the behavior of this complicated character who tries to seem perfect despite the obvious problems he experiences in life.
Firstly, it is essential to note that Hoffman played the role not as an intimidating, scary, or aggressive criminal. On the contrary, his performance is based on the idea that this person seems very intelligent and controlled.
At the same time, Hoffman’s talent helps the audience understand that it’s all a facade. Andy hides the internal pain as he suffers from addiction and is rolling in debt.
The actor does not want to show the viewer a theatrical villain, as Andy Hanson is a weak, fearful person who has been afraid to face his demons for many years.
The actor creates a perfect image of a deeply broken man who tries to control everything around him. Hoffman did a good job revealing the most vulnerable side of his character, as there are several scenes demonstrating Andy’s fear and insecurity.
However, the same scenes also help understand the level of emotional detachment of the main character.
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Hoffman plays his role brilliantly, together with Ethan Hawke, who is Andy’s younger brother. They create an atmosphere of mutual manipulation and fear.
They do not seem to be individuals united by a common goal; they rather look like emotionally damaged people who exploit each other’s weaknesses.
In such a way, Philip Seymour Hoffman contributes to the creation of one of the best films in recent history and creates the character that makes the viewer reflect on such concepts as masculinity, psychological repression, and the importance of love and moral values.
Have you watched ‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead‘? Let us know in the comments section below.
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