Miller's Crossing (1990)

Wonderful Movie

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Imagine if the coen brothers were from the silent epoch; I'm glad we don't have to.

Tom (Gabriel Byrne) is the right hand man of mobster Leo (Albert Finney). They've always "ruled" their city, despite elected officials. But, now, complications arise. Leo's galpal, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden) is seen as a hardened dame, using Leo for a better life. Her brother, Bernie (John Tuturro) is a bookie who is in trouble with Leo and with another rising mob boss, Johnny (Jon Polito). Because Bern is his lover's bro, Leo is reluctant to act against him. Meanwhile, Verna and Tom are having a secret affair, hardly loyal to Leo. Then, too, Tom is exploring working on the side for Johnny, because he has big debts to pay. Wouldn't you know it, Tom is soon asked to "off" Bernie at Miller's Crossing, a secluded wooded area where few bodies will be found. After all, Tom must prove his allegiance to Johnny. Fortunately, Tom finds a way out of his dilemma, but it doesn't solve the long term situation. Plus, Leo discovers Tom's double life, beats him up, and disowns him. With a growing battle between mobsters, who will remain standing? This intriguing, grimly majestic movie is a stellar piece of film making. The dialogue is superb, making the viewer hang on every word. Then, too, the direction includes scenes of great expertise, such as the one where a boy discovers a dead body, only to be startled when the man's toupee flies off. The actors, too, are great, with Tuturro, especially, exhibiting mighty prowess. As a period piece, one admires the thirties costumes and decor. All in all, MC was one of the first great Coen flicks and fans can argue it is the best of them all.

I would echo the review of Pclark in nearly all aspects. I want to add something that I am going to flag as a "spoiler" even though it isn't about the plot or the movie, per se: It is about technique. Miller's Crossing does an absolutely brilliant job of taking things to an exaggerated level (dialog, plot, characters, everything), but never crossing the line where you would not take it seriously while watching it. The Coen Brothers just weave magic around the hyperbole line: They run right up against it, but never quite cross it. Miller's Crossing is truly a singular film: You will find nothing else like it anywhere.

This is a rich, tightly-woven gangster story about two warring mobs struggling for control of an American city during the prohibition era. It took me more than one viewing to approach understanding the mob lingo, character relationships, and story line of this movie, but it was well worth the work!! The movie is populated by men who are constantly trying to double cross each other in order to win (or gain) favor with one of the two warring mob bosses: the Italian, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), and the Irishman, Leo (Albert Finney). Only Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro) and his sister, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), seem to lie clearly outside the lines of either mob--and present a thorn in the sides of both. The principal anti-hero of the movie is Leo's lieutenant, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne). Tom hates the way Leo is used by Verna (a hooker) to 'buy protection' for her brother. Tom keeps telling Leo that both Verna and Bernie are just grifters out for themselves. Tom is the real renegade of the movie who knows how to play both sides against the middle in hit after hit. He doesn't like being used or seeing his friends—if he has any--being used either. Tom has his own problems with gambling debts but is independent enough to refuse help from either boss in order to win him over to their side. Of all the Coen brothers movies, this one seems to have the most plot twists, which surprise and shock the viewer at every turn.