It is a good idea. Brothers knock over a mom and pop jewelry store. No guns. Insurance covers the loss. Sounds simple.

One problem caused another and soon the movie is an avalanche of chaos. There are a good number of plot twists to keep the audience interested.

Philip Seymour Hoffman gives it his all in the movie. He plays a conniving executive who can manipulate his brother into a bad situation. From the eccentric writer in Capote to a fallen actor in Along Came Polly, Hoffman proves he is a chameleon.

Ethan Hawk who plays opposite Hoffman is not half the actor Hoffman is. But Hawk is reliable. Hawk does not have range, but he is capable of one character. He does a pretty good job at the one face he shows you.

Before the Devil Knows Your Dead, seems to have some good ingredients: a few plot twists, some reasonable acting, and plenty of full frontal thanks to Marisa Tomei. It is not the best movie to pick up, but there are worse choices on the shelf.