Whereas Sidney Lumet’s Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead received an extraordinary amount of praise for a similar storyline, Woody Allen is getting far too little credit for Cassandra’s Dream. Nearly as good and even more suffocating, Cassandra’s Dream tells the story of two brothers (Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell) desperately in need of money who turn to their wealthy uncle (Tom Wilkinson) for help. But their dear old uncle Howard is in need of a favor himself and enlists the boys to “take care” of a meddlesome employee who plans to testify against him. Is the temptation of money, of success and of helping family enough to justify murder to these two? Farrell gives a twitchy, anxious performance unlike any other performance I’ve seen from him and McGregor finally has a role that corresponds well to someone coasting by on charm alone. Before the deed is even done, there’s a “Tell-Tale Heart” like aspect to this film that’s uneasiness will settle like a pit in your stomach. In a good way.
1 comment:
Finally saw this one and I was pleasantly surprised.
I liked it more than Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, and that one had the benefit of Marisa Tomei naked. This one does a much better job with the suspense including simply a long walk towards their victim, or staying out of sight with the victim's house. It was pins and needles during those moments, and as a suspense film, I thought it worked.
The characters are also a lot more sympathetic and we care about their plight. Before the Devil... paraded around really cruel people doing cruel things and we could care less how they end up.
Wasn't a big fan of how this one ends though. I just don't believe Ewan would go to that place and make that decision. And than it is kinda a cop out in order to resolve it all.
But still a hearty recommendation for Farrell, who really is having a great year with this and In Bruges (oddly another film where he is tormented by death), who gives I think a completely believable take on what these circumstances would do to the mind. He really is both nuts, but completely sane at the same time. It is a great dichotomy he plays.
McGregor plays more level headed, so he isn't as much fun unfortunately, but certainly not his fault and the story does call for this kind of character.
Wilkinson has a great scene, but than is lost for the rest of the film. It is all about these two brothers. Nearly every scene has either both or at least one of them in it. Unfortunately the love interests didn't really convince me. We are so wrapped up in the brothers that we just don't care about them. They are just too one dimensional.
Another solid effort from Woody. He's getting inspired by filming in London whereas I guess he got everything he could from NYC. Can't wait to see Vicky Cristina Barcelona in August, which takes him to Spain.
Post a Comment