i be begin to see a very consistent pattern form in the identity of 2007 film . if 2004 be the year of the biography and 2005 be the year of the political film and 2007 can be identify a a year feature a wide plethora of morality tale and film that portray and test and challenge and question human morality and the motif that drive u to do certain thing . although this identification be rather broad and i think that there be a handful of film release this year and such a 3 represent10 to yuma and eastern promise and american gangster and no country for old men and others that specifically question and study human moral and the motif that drive u to act such a violence or treachery . before the devil know youre dead be a deviously stylish morality tale and and quite a dark and bleak and depress one at that . and even well be the fact that it come from one of the great classic directorial force of our time and the legendary sidney lumet and who many have say have pass his prime but return in full force with this viciously rich crime thriller . it one of those film whose plot be so thick and that one be very reluctant to go into detail . it be a movie that be best enjoyed if enter without any prior knowledge to the event about to unfold and a there be twist and turn . but the thick and richly wrought plot be not at all at the center of this film while the true focus be and a i mention and the morality tale while the motif that drive these two men to the action they do in the film . in a plot structure like a combination between the filmographies of both the coen brother ( namely blood simple and fargo ) and quentin tarantino and we see two men drive under various shady circumstance to pull off a fairly simple crime that go incredibly and ridiculously wrong and and reciprocates with full force and inevitable tragedy . and to make it all the more interesting and the film be tell in a fragmented chronology that keep back tracking and show a series of event follow a different character every time and always end up where it leave off the last time . sizzling and sharp and thick and precariously depressing and kelly masterson screenplay be surprisingly poignant and well rounded and in particular because it be a debut screenplay . but the film have much more go for it than just it delectably sinister and quite depressing plot . first and foremost and the picture look and feel outstandingly well . sidney lumet have and throughout his career and consistently employ an interesting style of cinematography and light represent naturalistic and yet stylish at the same time . the film carry with it a distinctive air of style and class and with wonderful natural lighting that just look really great . editing be top notch while combine the sizzle drama thriller aspect with great long take that really take their time to portray the action accordingly . and vivid and dynamic camera angle and movement far add to the style . the film be also back by a fantastically succulent musical score by carter burwell . the screenplay do it part and and of course lumet do his part and but at the film dramatic center be three masterful actor who deliver incredibly good performance . first and foremost and there be the two lead . lead the pack be philip seymour hoffman and who have always be an excellent actor but have stumble upon newfound lead man status after his unnaturally fantastic oscar win performance in capote . his turn in this film be fascinate represent severely flaw and break and manic . hoffman have some truly intense scene in the film that really allow his full dramatic fury to come out and and not just his subtlety and wit . at his side be ethan hawke and who have deliver some fantastic performance in many film that be almost always overshadow by great and grander actor . here and he bounce off hoffman and complement him so incredibly well while in all and the dynamic acting between the two of them be just so utterly fantastic and convincing and the audience very quickly lose itself in the character and forgets that it watch actor . and then there albert finney . such a supple and opulent support role like the one he have require a veteran professional and here finney delivers his fine performance in many year a the tragically obsess father to the two brother who get catch up in the crime . i love how the dynamic between the three of them play out . i love how hoffman be clearly the dominant brother and shamelessly pick on his younger brother even now that theyre middle age men while and yet despite this and it be clear how finney father favour hawke young and weak brother . also on the topic of the cast and the two support female character wife of the brother also feature fantastic performance from amy ryan and marisa tomei and whose look just get good and good a the year go by . this film isn not revolutionary . these theme and this style have already be explore by the like of the coen brother and and it very easy to imagine them direct this film . but for a film that tread familiar ground and it simply excel . lumet employ his own immense directorial talent and employ his unique and very subtle sense of irony and style to masterson brilliantly vivid and intense and and morbidly depress first time screenplay . the lead performance be incredibly intense and the film feature absolutely fantastic turn from hoffman and hawke and finney while but the truly great wonder of the film be that three year after he win a lifetime achievement oscar and much revere a the ultimate sign of retirement in the film business and sidney lumet prove that he still have the immense talent to deliver a truly wonderful and resonant and intense piece of cinema reminiscent of his golden year .