Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
THINKFilm | Release Date: October 26, 2007
8.3
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 381 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
311
Mixed:
38
Negative:
32
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
3
JimR.Nov 4, 2007
Vastly over rated. no one in my group cared about anyone in the movie. yes the acting is good.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
StevenK.Nov 4, 2007
While lurching from horror to horror that this family wreaks upon itself the affect curiously only decreases the pace and makes the movie seem longer.No great movie this. Great acting though from Hoffman makes it worth the ride.I don't While lurching from horror to horror that this family wreaks upon itself the affect curiously only decreases the pace and makes the movie seem longer.No great movie this. Great acting though from Hoffman makes it worth the ride.I don't understand those high ratings though.No player elicits any sympathy except the mother and I suspect if we knew her better we would hate her too. If the intent is to instill sheer disgust at the human condition it succeeds in a very unrealistic way because the characters are one dimensionally venal..Not since "Pan's Labyrinth" has unabashed critical acclaim been so misplaced.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
BillD.Nov 3, 2007
If I were one of those sell-out "The perfect date movie" critics, this one would be "The anti-feel good movie of the year." The story telling, the structure, the acting -- everything is perfect. Except the story is so depressing.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
DWillyNov 3, 2007
The actors are strong enough, and the story gives them enough room to flex, to sustain this film beyond the limitations of its primitive filmmaking. I know that's an odd comment to make about a Sidney Lumet film, but, at 83 and working The actors are strong enough, and the story gives them enough room to flex, to sustain this film beyond the limitations of its primitive filmmaking. I know that's an odd comment to make about a Sidney Lumet film, but, at 83 and working with a very limited budget, maybe he had only enough strength to get those great performances. There is one exception: as Ethan Hawk's ex-wife, the overpraised Amy Wright from "Gone Baby Gone" turns in the same shallow crap here, too.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
JimMNov 2, 2007
It takes only a few minutes for this movie to devolve into an absurd and alienating little moral play. Does it still count as a tragedy when you have no sympathy for anyone on screen? Did we really need to be trusted so little as to have to It takes only a few minutes for this movie to devolve into an absurd and alienating little moral play. Does it still count as a tragedy when you have no sympathy for anyone on screen? Did we really need to be trusted so little as to have to watch the same scenes played out repeatedly in case...what? We missed something? Not at this leisurely pace, we didn't. The characters motivations felt false; the broken narrative was gimmicky in the worst way; Marisa Tomei was utterly wasted in a slight, pathetic role; and lord, that overbearing score made we want to run screaming from the theater. Overripe, dated, and silly, this must be the most overrated film of the year.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
JohnPNov 2, 2007
Amazing movie all around - performances, directing, music. Best work Hawke has ever done. Best nude scenes Tomei has ever done, too ! Hoffman is, of course, riveting. The last half hour will mess you up.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
CharlesS.Nov 1, 2007
Laudable but forced. Hoffman is mis-cast as a down-and-out businessman with a huge gut and addiction. Hawke vastly overplays his jittery sad-sack baby brother approach. Even the estimable Finney can't seem to find anything except a Laudable but forced. Hoffman is mis-cast as a down-and-out businessman with a huge gut and addiction. Hawke vastly overplays his jittery sad-sack baby brother approach. Even the estimable Finney can't seem to find anything except a one-note, lumbering, mouth-agape tone to his character, because the film is so two-dimensional in its concerns.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
RonGOct 29, 2007
Very forced melodrama. Unconvincing, formulaic.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
StevenG.Oct 28, 2007
The professional reviewers have confused over the top melodrama with substance. This movie portrays sex, drugs and murder in an messy implausible scenario. Marisa Tomei will not win an Oscar this time, but she sure is in great shape.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
BrockN.Oct 26, 2007
Even the cameos (notably Michael Shannon) were outstanding.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
BettJ.Oct 26, 2007
Great movie. Hoffman is amazing.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
[Anonymous]Oct 26, 2007
I don't get all the hype. This is a cheap looking movie with an outdated director and a story that falls into completely ridiculous melodrama by the end. No thanks.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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