soon-to-84-year-old director Sidney Rummett reminded people with his 45th film "Before the Devil Knows You Are Dead" that the Oscar was awarded to him for life. The Achievement Award (2005) seems to be a bit early. Although he is old, but the sword is not old, he is still able to control a film about black crime and family issues with flexibility, exquisite technique, clear narrative, and simple rhythm.
The prolific Sidney Rumet is experienced, skilled and good at shooting court themes. His famous masterpieces are numerous. For example, it was released in 1957 and starred by Henry Fonda. "Han", "Murder on the Eastern Train" starring Ingrid Bergman in 1974, "Hot Day Afternoon" starring Al Pacino in 1975, Paul Newman starring in "The Grand Trial" in 1982, etc., each Both have distinctive styles, blurred plots, unique techniques, and fascinating. They have also formed their unique image styles, such as the use of interspersed, flashbacks and even "random" techniques to expand the storyline, and frequently change multiple visuals to reproduce the full picture of the event. Another example is good at digging and analyzing the dark side of human nature, showing the complex relationships between characters, and so on.
The production level of "Before the Devil Knows You Die" this time is also extraordinary. Although it is not Rumait's strong court scene, the shooting method is still "very Rumait", often not playing cards according to the card, and the narrative method is also Jumping and moving. At the beginning of the film, it showed the "clue" of telling the story not according to the conventional routine, but separated every detail of the event before and after the occurrence, and described it with different characters as the main line, which broke through time. The limitation of the game is to disrupt the order, guide the audience's thinking to follow up clearly by means of subtitles, combined with the constantly changing scenes and clean editing effects, thus creating a new and exciting narrative mode. Normally, a film of this kind is easy to confuse the audience, but Rumait itself is very logical. His splitting and assembly are organic and core, which demonstrates his skill, not only without any sense of confusion, but also Moreover, with the transition and progress of the plot, a unique urgent rhythm, tension and attraction for watching movies have formed, which makes the audience unknowingly blend into the plot, fall into thinking, and be unable to stop. They are both appetite and happy. Thoughts being drawn.
The title of the film is derived from an Irish proverb, "Before the devil knows that you are dead, I hope you have been in heaven for half an hour." It implies the inevitability of evil people who have done bad things in hell after death. Parents in the jewelry business were robbed by their own sons? This seemingly absurd and unbelievable incident revealed the greed of human nature and the tragedy of the world. The brother Andy in the film (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman) seems to have a good time, has a decent job venture capital and a beautiful wife Gina (played by Marisa Tomei), but he was born a man Yi breeds dissatisfaction and desire. Andy is a drug addict, and his heart is very restless. He always feels short of money and is eager to make a windfall. The younger brother Hank (played by Ethan Hawke) seems to be a failure in life. He has a tough ex-wife and a daughter who is expensive. Because he owes his ex-wife support and can’t make up his daughter’s high private school tuition, he is accused by his wife and daughter. For the failed man, Hank was very distressed and anxious.
Andy dared to take risks and had a bright mind. He designed a super-perfect robbery. He informed his brother of his plan to make a fortune, and planned to join Hank to rob the jewelry store opened by his parents—this place, his brothers. Familiar with the terrain, you can achieve the ideal no violence, no victims, and no clues. After the catastrophe, unknowing parents can also get a large amount of insurance to compensate for the loss.
However, as soon as this seemingly perfect robbery was brewed, it attracted the attention of the devil, and an accident occurred during the robbery-the guy Hank hired to do the robbery was accidentally shot by Hank's mother and died. Earlier, he gave Hank’s mother a shot...
His mother’s death caused a series of long-hidden family problems. Father Charles (played by Albert Finney) has always demanded his family with moral standards, but Andy sums up He looks very divorced. Deep down, Andy has been complaining about his father’s neglect of himself. At the same time, the seemingly like-minded brothers are far from harmonious and friendly. Andy’s wife Gina and Hank have an affair, Gina finally left. Andy.
Originally, Andy robbed him to maintain his marriage and better enjoy life, but the more he wanted to get it, the easier it was to lose. Marriage could not be consolidated with money. Life was originally full of variables, and these eventually made him angry, and then broke out. He robbed and bloodbath. The drug dealer’s house was killed, and the guy who blackmailed him and Hank was killed...Finally, the father who discovered the truth personally unplugged Andy's breathing apparatus who was shot and admitted to the hospital...
In the intricate but not distracted plot, the film tells the different experiences and feelings of each character at the same time, as if leading the audience to see the same thing from different perspectives, and outlines the complex psychology of each character in multiple directions. It also shows personality characteristics, which provides sufficient space for the actors to perform. Although the film has a few small flaws in the plot, the actor's performance is very good, making the whole film appear full and complete. Each character passage in the film is full of dramatic tension, and the protagonist’s psychological drama is powerful and effective. People are convinced.
The older brother Andy is like a double-faced man, meticulous and complex, sophisticated and cunning. Philip Seymour Hoffman, who used to be a "golden supporting role" and a very wide play, won the Oscar for his excellent role as Capote. Later, he once again proved his excellent acting skills. This time he well interprets Andy's complex and changeable character, showing the gloomy, cunning, greedy and later anger, cruelty and violence of Andy. , Also continued to demonstrate his mastery and mastery of complex, elusive, and moody characters.
The younger brother Hank is very emotional, like an uninspired man who has no ambitions but is forced by life, man's self-esteem, unexpected whims and courage, so he accepts flickering. Ethan Hawke’s performance is impressive and accurately shows the two sides of Hank’s constant swaying and struggling between good and evil. When Andy proposed a wealth plan to him, his expression changed richly and delicately. He was hesitant and longing to meet the needs of his beloved daughter, and more of it was a dream-like unreality, which deeply reflected Hank's complex inner activities at this moment. After the incident, Hanke was shocked and panicked, and struggled with fear and self-blame. Sometimes it seemed that he was about to explode but turned into depression in an instant. However, Hanke always had a fluke mentality and lacked enough courage to avoid it. Withdrawing from the vortex of trouble, his passive, flustered, struggling, and compassionate are in contrast to Andy's active, gloomy, thorough, cold and greedy. Personality determines fate. This contrast and contrast also implies that they must go to different endings. .
The strength of the supporting role in the film should not be underestimated. For example, Marisa Tomei, who played the sexy "Problem Housewife" Gina, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1992 with "My Cousin Pooh" and played the role of father Charles. Albert Finney is even more of an old drama. It has a history of five nominations. The scene of killing a son was performed by Albert that was both shocking and subtle. It immediately drew the complex and painful psychology and showed it in action. The decidedly decisive side.
When the film was first released, it was regarded as an art film, and there were not many theaters. However, many audiences came here, and the reputation was very good. Finally, the film was able to meet with more audiences. It can be seen that it is a good one. How easy it is to be missed.
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