what an extraordinary crime thriller . my wife and i saw this at the toronto international film festival last week and it be far and away the best movie in an exceptionally strong festival . it already my second favourite film of all time after dr. strangelove and i be definitely on an emotional high a i walk home and discuss the film with my wife . i do not want to spoil the plot because thriller of this calibre be best enjoy without preconception . a synopsis that i would feel comfortable sharing be that two brother and play by phillip seymour hoffman and ethan hawke and be plan to rob a jewellery store in westchester and new york . the film bounce back and forth in time over approximately a two week period of time ( before and during and after the robbery ) and and one key scene be repeat at least three time . ordinarily and that could disrupt the momentum of a film but that never happen during this masterpiece . the excitement and the tension and and even the quality of the act only seem to get well a the film progress . by the end and i be on the edge of my seat breathlessly wait to see how it would all wrap up . i know that i have use a few clichés in this post and but i literally be on the edge of my seat . i should mention that the non linear storyline be quite easy to follow . this isn not the sort of movie where you will overhear audience member ask their friend to explain the plot during the movie . the acting be absolutely brilliant all around and and i doubt i would have the same admiration for the film if the casting hadn not be so perfect . a tiny complaint be that hoffman and hawke do not look like brother and but that a minor quibble that i can easily overlook . hoffman be at his very best and some of his scene with hawke be positively electric . marisa tomei ( a hoffman wife ) and albert finney ( a the father of hoffman and hawke ) be also very good in support role . even some cameo performance be so impressive that i can still remember every remark and gesture and facial expression by brian obyrne and michael shannon absolute perfection . the robbery scene felt more authentic than any other cinematic robbery scene i have ever watch and and i have the same feeling of authenticity in most scene and especially the one with hoffman . the music help to build up the tension throughout the movie and often the same note play over very effectively . i have the music playing in my head the following day and even a i sit through other film . in addition to my minor complaint at the beginning of this paragraph and there be one plot twist that felt a bit unbelievable ( major spoiler and so i can not describe the scene ) . otherwise and this film be pretty darn close to perfect . there be about a dozen great film at the festival that i would enjoy watch a second time but before the devil know youre dead stand in a league of it own . a an aside and the director sidney lumet spoke before the film and he introduce marisa tomei and ethan hawke onto the stage . tomei do not speak and she act a bit shy so lumet ask can you believe that someone so beautiful could be so camera shy . that comment be quite ironic consider the graphic opening scene .