EVIL ON SCREEN

Sidney Lumet's stunningly dark crime drama BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD knocked me flat on my ass last night. Philip Seymour Hoffman tears apart the screen in one of the most fevered, maniacal performances of his career. I was not prepared for Lumet, who is now 83 years old, to bust out with a nasty picture like this; but I'm more than glad he did. It reminded me in many respects of the Coen Brothers masterpiece FARGO. Cut from the same cloth. Anyways, my review will be up soon; another incredible film for 2007.