Sunday Matinee #73 Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
The Summer of Samuel kicks off with a depressing movie.
1 Samuel 3:1-20 | EnterTheBible.org
Second Sunday After Pentecost | 06.02.2024
Context: Hannah prayed for a long time to have a child. Finally, she has a boy, Samuel, and when he is of age she sends him to be a pupil of Eli, a priest who had helped her in that difficult time (all the while he is dealing with his own difficulties because of his two sons and their misdeeds). One night, Samuel hears the voice of God but thinks it’s Eli. To this, Eli says it’s God, so listen and let me know what God tells you.
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” 15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead | 2007
IMDb | Letterboxd | RRMC
Context: At the wake of his wife Nanette (Rosemary Harris), family patriarch Charles (Michael Gambon) has a heart to heart talk with his eldest son, Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Despite himself, Andy cannot help but bring up his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke).
Charles: I'm sorry. I wasn't able to be the father you wanted. But I guess I wanted you to be better than me. And I thought that if I push… It may not mean anything to you, but I want you to know that I really do love you. And I'm... I'm sorry. I'm just so sorry.
Andy: I'm sorry I wasn't able to be the son you wanted.
Charles: You did the best you could.
Andy: Still, yeah. Manage to seem to still like Hank. He was a lot more of a fuck-up than I was.
Charles: He was the baby.
Andy: Yeah.
Charles: He needed us more.
Andy: Yeah, he needed you more.
Commentary:
There are many pivotal scenes in the Bible. When Moses receives the ten commandments. When Jesus is baptized. When Balaam’s ass talks to him. The donkey, not the other one. Make no mistake, this scene is also pivotal. From this moment, we will see the kingdom of ancient Israel go from being ruled by judges to kings and a new lineage born as a new Temple is built. But it all begins with how a little boy receives a big message.
A miracle baby, Hannah gives back to God by sending her long prayed-for son, Samuel, to be a pupil of Eli, a priest who served as her confident when she could not conceive. The boy grows up and learns from Eli, and one day he will be an amazing prophet. On this day, he’s hearing a voice call his name. He keeps going to Eli who says that’s not me. Samuel is confused because he’s sure he hears his name being called. I can relate. There is a bird with a call that sounded much like my mother calling, “Naaay-thaaan!” as I played in the backyard.
Finally, with urging from Eli, Samuel learns it’s God who is calling him. He listens and that’s when God drops a bombshell: your teacher, Eli, is going to have a downfall and it’s all because of his sons. He did not do well in raising them and all of them will pay. So, like, go tell him that for me. Cool, God, really cool. Samuel hesitates, but eventually we will see him tell Eli what’s going on and things snowball from there. It won’t be long before Samuel takes the place of Eli as a trusted servant of God who will help usher in the era of kings.
But it all starts here, with this moment of God speaking with someone willing to listen. Remember that as we go into the next few weeks that span a theological history of priests, prophets, and politics as kings are made.
I wrote about Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and other unlucky loser movies at Movie Memories, my longform essay blog about memorable movie viewings at Pika.
Hey, I heard you were feeling really happy and that life can’t get any better, that truly nothing can possibly bring you down. Might as well watch Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and sucker punch your happiness straight down into a puddle of depression. But hey, it’s some of the best acting you’ll ever see, so there’s that.
Charles and Nanette did all they could to raise their children right, but things don’t always go according to plan. Despite their best efforts – or unfortunately due to the limitations of their best efforts – these two brothers find themselves in trouble again and again. Often, they play foil to one another, capitulating the other into yet more trouble than they would’ve had on their own. I can relate. Good friends can find good mischief pretty quickly!
Through a series of unfortunate events, Charles and his eldest son, Andy, are in the backyard during a wake for Nanette. There, Charles offers Andy a heartfelt confession and apology, admitting to his sin of imperfection and offering his love. Andy reciprocates in a way, though not without a chip on his shoulder as he does so. He knows that he may be the result of his father’s sins, but he also knows his own sins affect his father and late mother. Despite himself, he brings up spite for his brother, as well, and things take a turn south pretty quickly.
In this family, the generations pay high costs because of one another: the parents, the brothers, the circle…
Wow, this is a tough movie to watch. The politics of this family drama are painful to witness unfold. And just when you think oh, that’s what’s going on, nnnnnooope, the family drama is over here because of this. I don’t know if I’m selling this one for you or not. I’d say go for it, at least once. It may be tough to revisit, but this one will stick with you, whether you want it to or not. We miss you, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Have you ever had to deliver tough news? What does a good apology look like to you? How do you know when God is speaking into your life?