Before Devil Knows You'Re Dead
Shuping Hu
ENG105 Assignment 1
Dr. Joy Browne
April 23, 2013
Before The Devil Knows You’re dead The name of the film comes from an Irish proverb. The original sentence is “May you be in heaven a half an hour before the devil knows you are dead.” The name of the film drops a hint of the main theme that greed makes people perish. In addition, the film explains that events are not always according to the plan. Another subtheme that people who set a wrong step at first will get into the whole wrong is mentioned as well. These two subthemes push the development of plots. Because of the greedy desire, characters intended to receive money from the shortcuts. However, that is the beginning of the whole wrong. Meanwhile, their actions deviated from the planned trajectory which eventually caused their tragic endings.
The main characters in the film are the two brothers, Andy and Hank. Andy, the older brother, was a finance executive at a firm in New York. Although he had a well-paid job he still lacked of money because of his drug habit. In order to support his drug habit, he embezzled from his employer. However, an upcoming audit made him worried about being revealed. On the other hand, he promised his wife to leave for another place to satisfy his wife’s desire. Andy finally decided to go to Brazil where he believed has no extradition treaty with the United States. To raise the funds of escaping, he devises a plan to rob their parents ' jewelry store. Hank is the younger brother who was in need of money to afford his daughter’s private school tuition and other funds for her to join various activities. By contrast with his brother, he was a normal staff member at a firm and was paid fewer than his brother. Because of the burden of life, he reluctantly agreed with the scheme which Andy hatched. Of the two brothers, Hank had a better relationship with their parents. Meanwhile, he was cowardly but well-meaning. Conversely, Andy harbors great resentment that his
ENG105 Assignment 1
Dr. Joy Browne
April 23, 2013
Before The Devil Knows You’re dead The name of the film comes from an Irish proverb. The original sentence is “May you be in heaven a half an hour before the devil knows you are dead.” The name of the film drops a hint of the main theme that greed makes people perish. In addition, the film explains that events are not always according to the plan. Another subtheme that people who set a wrong step at first will get into the whole wrong is mentioned as well. These two subthemes push the development of plots. Because of the greedy desire, characters intended to receive money from the shortcuts. However, that is the beginning of the whole wrong. Meanwhile, their actions deviated from the planned trajectory which eventually caused their tragic endings.
The main characters in the film are the two brothers, Andy and Hank. Andy, the older brother, was a finance executive at a firm in New York. Although he had a well-paid job he still lacked of money because of his drug habit. In order to support his drug habit, he embezzled from his employer. However, an upcoming audit made him worried about being revealed. On the other hand, he promised his wife to leave for another place to satisfy his wife’s desire. Andy finally decided to go to Brazil where he believed has no extradition treaty with the United States. To raise the funds of escaping, he devises a plan to rob their parents ' jewelry store. Hank is the younger brother who was in need of money to afford his daughter’s private school tuition and other funds for her to join various activities. By contrast with his brother, he was a normal staff member at a firm and was paid fewer than his brother. Because of the burden of life, he reluctantly agreed with the scheme which Andy hatched. Of the two brothers, Hank had a better relationship with their parents. Meanwhile, he was cowardly but well-meaning. Conversely, Andy harbors great resentment that his
Cited: Before The Devil Knows You’re dead. Dir. Sidney Lumet. Perf. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, Albert Finney. THINKFilm. October 26, 2007 (US). DVD.