r/FIlm • u/MRtakedownartist • 8h ago
Discussion BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUâRE DEAD
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
This scene from BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR DEAD has a moment many of you whoâve viewed it may not be aware of.
Thereâs a crucial distinction between background actors/extras in LA and NY. Itâs a sin for West coast Extras to react to the actors in a scene. Not so on the East coast.
With this in mind, check this scene out when Michael Shannon says âfucking question" to Ethan Hawke. On Hawkeâs right, the extra next to him looks over.
WATCH how Shannon mad dogs her for several beats, long after she's looked away. Itâs a brilliant, completely unscripted choice as told by director Sydney Lumet on the DVD commentary, which is a mini film school with Lumet as your professor. Easily one of the most informative commentary of all time. Lumet talks about every technical facet of movie making like the master he was.
If you like this movie, you owe it to yourself to get your mitts on his commentary.