Independent Crime Films about Betrayal
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Restraint, and Flawless
Sep 14, 2008
These three independent films each explore some psychological or moral consequence of crime. In the first film, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, a brother betrays the family's trust. In the second film, Restraint, a dangerous triangle exists between a violent criminal, his reluctant accomplice, and a seemingly helpless hostage. The third, Flawless, deals with the individual pitted against the cold and uncaring corporation.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
The entire quote, an Irish toast, goes, "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead."
This is a dark film about a brother who solicits the help of his younger sibling, equally desperate for cash, to help him pull off a robbery. The worst part about their plan is it is their parent’s jewelry store they intend to hit. The older brother, Andy, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, claims it is risk-free as no one will get hurt and the insurance will reimburse the jewelry store for the loss. The older brother’s conflict with his father, his feelings of not measuring up, and an expensive drug habit encourage him to plan this heist. He convinces his gullible brother he must do the actual robbery because he has been seen around the store recently and might be recognized, even in disguise. The younger brother Hank, played by Ethan Hawke, has his own money problems because of a messy divorce. But things go terribly wrong with the younger brother, too cowardly to do the job himself, enlists the aid of a third party, a bungling hoodlum. From there, things go dreadfully wrong. This movie explores what happens when one family member betrays the family. The title is quite fitting.
Restraint
In this Australian film, a violent and dangerous criminal and his pretty, uneducated girlfriend are on the run from the law. They hole up in the mansion of an agoraphobic man who at first seems helpless and pathetic. But the violent trespassers soon find themselves matching wits with the Norman Bates-like character, who is also hiding some secrets. The agoraphobic hostage Andrew, played by Stephen Moyer, buys time by explaining how the girl, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his missing girlfriend Gabrielle, can withdraw money from his bank account by posing as his fiancé. His captors must keep him alive because the bank will not release the money without calling with a secret code that only he can give. The violent Ron, played by Travis Fimmel, finds to his surprise that the agoraphobic Andrew is more like him than he thinks. The rather violent film has many twists and turns.
Flawless
In this period piece set in 1960, an unlikely duo of employees plan the theft of a big London diamond company. Laura Quinn, played by Demi Moore, is an up-and-coming executive who has just discovered that her greedy employers have stolen her ideas and plan to terminate her employment. Mr. Hobbs, the unobtrusive, almost invisible janitor played by veteran actor Michael Caine convinces her to join him in a diamond heist. On Laura’s part, the motive is more revenge against the company than desire for monetary gain. But what does Mr. Hobbs want? The truth will come as a big surprise.
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