Ethan Hawke Reflects on Intense Rivalry with Philip Seymour Hoffman on Lumet's Final Film

Four years ago, in an interview with Vanity Fair, four-time Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke reflected on his work with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Sidney Lumet's final film, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Despite being longtime friends, Hawke and Hoffman found themselves pitted against each other by the legendary director in order to elevate their performances.

Hawke explained that Hoffman, who had already won an Academy Award, brought Lumet to see a play featuring Hawke, which led to Hawke's eventual casting in the 2007 crime thriller. However, on set, Lumet constantly praised Hoffman's work, fueling Hawke's competitive drive. "Phil was great, and by that, I mean, he didn't suffer fools lightly. He was one of those people that it just felt life or death to him whether or not we did the scene well," Hawke recalled.

Hoffman's cutting advice ultimately proved crucial for Hawke's performance. The Capote star told Hawke that he was struggling to understand his character because he was trying to play him as an "alpha," a trait that better suited Hoffman's role. "And for some reason it all just clicked. It's like he started a dynamic between the two of us that was right," Hawke said. In the end, Lumet remarked that the two actors were "so easy to play" against each other.