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Two brothers plot to rob their parents’ jewelry store, sending their lives and the lives of their loved ones into a tragic, downward spiral. Sidney Lumet (Network, Dog Day Afternoon) directs his final film with a stellar cast in this melodramatic thriller. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the scheming brother who holds a grudge against their father, while Ethan Hawke plays the more insecure younger brother. Hoffman is always terrific, but this may be one of Hawke’s finest performances — he doesn’t often get a chance to work with material this elevated, and he does it justice. Marisa Tomei plays Hoffman’s wife… and Hawke’s lady on the side. (Did I mention the melodrama angle?) Albert Finney plays the father who ends up on the sons’ trail, becoming as much of a threat to the two men as the cops are. Rosemary Harris, Leonardo Cimino, and Michael Shannon fill out the supporting roster. All contribute, including composer Carter Burwell, under the direction of one of the finest directors who ever lived, to make Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead a gripping, edge-of-your seat movie, right from the beginning.