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randall 
"I like to watch."
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 Posted - 10/13/2007 : 20:45:45
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Sidney Lumet's magnificent new movie is a model of tension and character. Two financially desperate brothers hatch a plot to rob a mom-and-pop jewelry store: their own mom and pop's! But the heist goes horribly wrong, and events quickly spiral out of control. The superb script by Kelly Masterson is not set in straight linear time, but jumps forward and backward, before and after the robbery. If this sounds confusing, it's not at all: titles place you in time, and you gradually realize why the heart-pounding story is being told this way. Phil Hoffman and Ethan Hawke have never been better, but then their director has always known how to feature actors.
After this afternoon's NYFF screening, Mr. Lumet gave a fascinating q-and-a session. He's one of the most articulate filmmakers I've ever heard. Like David Lynch a year ago, he raved about hi-def, which is changing everything for people like him: coverage with two cameras, color correction without multiple tries from a lab, etc. It collapses time and expense.
Here's another one to put on your list. What a great job by all concerned. |
Edited by - randall on 01/18/2008 10:10:47 |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 10/26/2007 : 21:18:31
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| Tony Scott writes a love letter in today's Times to join the virtually unanimous pack of critical huzzahs. |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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RockGolf 
"1500+ reviews. 1 joke."
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Posted - 11/13/2007 : 20:00:21
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From Roger Ebert:
quote:
Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can. I so much want to avoid revealing plot points that I don't even want to risk my usual strategy of oblique hints. You deserve to walk into this one cold.
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MguyX 
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 11/13/2007 : 22:52:51
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quote:
Originally posted by R o � k G 0 1 f
From Roger Ebert:
quote:
Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can. I so much want to avoid revealing plot points that I don't even want to risk my usual strategy of oblique hints. You deserve to walk into this one cold.
That was my sentiment exactly.  |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 11/13/2007 : 23:11:43
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quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
quote:
Originally posted by R o � k G 0 1 f
From Roger Ebert:
quote:
Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is such a superb crime melodrama that I almost want to leave it at that. To just stop writing right now and advise you to go out and see it as soon as you can. I so much want to avoid revealing plot points that I don't even want to risk my usual strategy of oblique hints. You deserve to walk into this one cold.
That was my sentiment exactly.
Yet there's so much more with which to watch and learn. Same with NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN: even if you know the setup, there's no way you will predict how it turns out. [Unless you've already read the book...] |
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MguyX
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 11/14/2007 : 02:23:30
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No doubt.
I was just basking in Ebert's reflective glow for a moment.  |
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Salopian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 01/17/2008 : 22:53:01
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| I really enjoyed it too, despite the extremely unpleasant-to-watch opening scene! The brothers look far too different, though - leaving aside the physical gulf, what ages are they supposed to be? Andy says "When we were kids", suggesting that there is not meant to be a massive difference in their ages. |
Edited by - Salopian on 01/18/2008 23:38:07 |
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Before The Devil Knows You're Dead--Spoilers
