Title: 4 Star Story with 2 Star Acting
Product review: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is a depressing but well conceived story saddled with hugely overwrought acting by two main characters. From the overbearing bombastics of Philip Seymour Hoffman to the seething bug-catching stares of Albert Finney, this is one huge opportunity wasted. Hawke and Tomei do their best to rein in the proceedings, providing a quiet, suffering dignity to their tortured souls, but the excesses of the former just about kills the momentum generated by the story.By the time the last scene rolls around we want to take the pillow to both Finney and Hoffman. And Lumet for his jump-time storytelling technique. Tragic waste of a great opportunity.
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