2007
Rated R
Written by Kelly Masterson
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Albert Finney, Brian F. O'Byrne

There are several movies that were highly-acclaimed, but that I didn't care for, because the characters were so unlikeable and despicable. Glengarry Glen Ross and Boys Don't Cry are two off the top of my head. Most of the characters in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead are immoral and unworthy of any sympathy, but I liked the film anyway.

Andy (Hoffman) is a real estate executive who is embezzling money from his company to support his drug habit. His younger brother Hank (Hawke) is a down-on-his-luck loser who can't afford to pay child support to his ex-wife, and is secretly sleeping with Andy's wife Gina (Tomei). Andy has an idea to get hold of some money: they will rob their elderly parents' jewelry store with a mask and toy gun in the morning when their mother's friend opens the store.

Unbeknownst to Andy, Hank hires an acquaintance, Bobby (O'Brien) to perform the robbery. Bobby brings a real gun, is surprised by Hank and Andy's mother, Nanette (Harris) instead of her friend, and Bobby and Nanette end up fatally shooting each other.

Things only get worse. Nanette's husband Charles (Finney) becomes obsessed trying to figure out the facts about his wife's mother. Hank gets into hot water with Bobby's family and ends up needing even more money. Andy's company starts to realize that money is missing. And the love triangle between Gina and the brothers becomes more and more complicated.

I really liked this movie. The performances were strong and the storyline was engaging. It was a pretty intense and very entertaining film. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what made me like this movie about horrible people when I usually don't like those kinds of films, and I can't put my finger on it. I guess it was such a riveting storyline and well-done film.