7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewelry store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that they both could not have foreseen.
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney, Rosemary HarrisDrama | 100% |
Crime | 67% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 5.0 |
Sidney Lumet was 84 years old when he directed Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. I wanted to put that out there; right up front, easy to see, for all of the readers who might not be familiar with this remarkable man's work. Not only that, it's at this grand age, when most people are experiencing trouble walking, much less directing a motion picture, that Mr. Lumet decided to shoot his first feature with high definition cameras. It's safe to say that he got the hang of it; so much so, that he made the following statement at a press event during the movie's release:
"Anything you can do with film, I can do with HD."
Touche, sir! Mr. Lumet has proven, time and again, that he's one of the most talented forces to ever direct a film. His directorial credits read like a laundry-list of masterworks and reach back to 1948. I guess it should come as no surprise then, that this immensely gifted man has delivered yet another stunning motion picture in 2007's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. The film is a stark, violent and disturbing look into the workings of a troubled family, and how a series of lapses in judgment will tear that family to pieces.
Hank's suggestion for a game of "patty-cake" was not well received.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a bizarre visual experience. Much has been made of Mr. Lumet's decision to shoot the movie with Panavision Genesis high definition cameras as well as the resulting look the movie achieves. It's a varied presentation that sways between scenes drained of color and contrast to those that are rich and lush. Much of the indoor photography falls into the latter category; Andy's drug dealer's apartment being a particularly fine example of a more brilliantly saturated location.
Admirably, this direct-to-digital 1080p transfer, utilizing AVC Mpeg-4 while maintaining the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, does a completely faithful job of dealing with the film's extremes while maintaining an extraordinary level of fine detail. Contrast is intentionally inconsistent; some scenes maintain solid black levels while others are crushed. There's a stylized look to the entire production that, while difficult to pin down, gives the film a singular visual tone. Those on the hunt for edge enhancement, artifacts and other anomalies will, thankfully, find none. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a challenging film, both in story and appearance. Image Entertainment has reached the highest level of perfection with this Blu-ray release and I am thrilled to give the film's video my highest recommendation.
On the audio front, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead manages a delicate balancing act by creating an impressive ambiance rooted in the sounds of every day life, while rendering the picture's many dialogue-driven scenes with aplomb. Image has wisely chosen 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio as their audio format for this release and I can't imagine Before the Devil Knows You're Dead sounding any better.
The movie, itself, is one of extremes; shifting back and forth between relative calm and sudden and shocking violence. This outstanding surround track responds to each and every situation by calmly rendering the quieter moments and leaping to attention with furious intensity during the film's brutal depictions of unexpected violence. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead features a strangely menacing score, provided by Carter Burwell, that haunts each scene and punctuates every moment of violence. It's chillingly reproduced here; perfectly placed within the mix. Dialogue is rooted in the center channel throughout the feature and a light, effective atmosphere convincingly fills the rear channels. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is subtle and creative in its use of surround sound. It's a track that sneaks up on the viewer and makes its presence known with brute force, powerful LFE and reference-grade fidelity. Highly recommended.
Here's what's included:
- Audio Commentary with Director Sidney Lumet and actors Philip Seymour Hoffman and
Ethan Hawke
- "How the Devil Was Made"
- Theatrical Trailer
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead includes a handful of special features that are
fairly limited in number while remaining superbly in-depth. First up, is the tremendous audio
commentary track with Director Sidney Lumet, Ethan Hawke and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
It's a wonderfully enriching, entertaining and informative experience that takes the viewer
inside the minds of all three participants. Fascinating aspects of the production process are
disclosed; the track represents a unique opportunity to witness a number of in-depth
discussions that highlight the master director's unique take on the material and how the
lead actors interpreted his direction. Next, "How the Devil Was Made," is an involved
behind-the-scenes documentary that focuses on the High Definition cameras used for the
movie as well as intimate interviews with the cast and crew. It's a short featurette, but
never fails to be interesting and completely involving. Finally, the feature's theatrical trailer
has been included; unfortunately, only in standard definition.
It never ceases to amaze me that Before the Devil Knows You're Dead didn't achieve more success in theaters. It is a hauntingly eye-opening film about greed, addiction and envy that culminates into one of the most harrowing portraits of broken family bonds that I've ever witnessed. Fueled by a magnificent script that abandons the traditional linear timeline of most films, in favor of one that freely revisits scenes from varying perspectives, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a one stop master-class in well honed technique. Director Sidney Lumet disproves the old adage that one "can't teach an old dog new tricks" by shooting the picture in a guerilla style, using high definition cameras. It's his years of filmmaking expertise with both the technical side of filmmaking as well as extracting the finest performances from his actors that shines though in every frame of this magnificent film. Image Entertainment has given Before the Devil Knows You're Dead a perfect video transfer that is consistent with the feature's digital source. Audio is also dynamic, powerful and, when necessary, restrained. The set's supplements are a little on the light side, though what is included maintains exceptional quality. I can't recommend Before the Devil Knows You're Dead highly enough. It is the overlooked gem of 2007 and is a film that demands to be seen.
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