The title of the film is taken from the old Irish toast: “May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead”.  Suggesting urgency, the film based on Kelly Masterson’s script is a fast moving one, made even more intense with it being told in shifting chronological order while showing different perspectives of the film’s 3 principal characters.

The film begins with a comical yet brutal botched robbery of a jewellery store.  The robber is shot dead by the severely wounded lady in the store.  Director Lumet (NETWORK, DOG DAY AFTRNOON, SERPICO) then reveals the store to be owned by a mother (Rosemary Harris) and father (Albert Finney) and the heist planned by their two sons Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Hank (Ethan Hawke).

83-year old Lumet has been known as an actor’s director.  It shows!  He elicits terrific performances, the best surprisingly coming from Ethan Hawke as the puppy-faced cowardly brother forced to face the reality of his act. 

Lumet’s edgy film titters on the right side of the line of being sardonic and witty without falling into silly.  Entertaining, keenly observant of the drug and social culture, Lumet’s dark suspenseful thriller of a dysfunctional family proves once again he is a master director of his craft.  Most of his human beings are either victims or robbers.