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Miller's Crossing 
Actors : Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden, Jon Polito
Director : Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Studio : 20th Century Fox
by 20th Century Fox
Brand : TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
Release Date : 2003-05-20
Publisher : 20th Century Fox
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 0024543073833
UPC : 024543073833
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 229 reviews)
List Price : $9.98
Our Price : $3.18
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Description |
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Leo is the benevolent Irish gangster and political boss who rules an Easter city with the help of Tom, his trusted lieutenant and counselor. But their control of the town is challenged by an over-reaching Italian underboss and his ruthless henchman. Just as this threat erupts, Leo and Tom have a falling out over the same woman. Tom, caught in the jaws of a gangland violent outcome. |
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Marketadvisory.com essential video |
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Arguably the best film by Joel and Ethan Coen, the 1990 Miller's Crossing stars Gabriel Byrne as Tom, a loyal lieutenant of a crime boss named Leo (Albert Finney) who is in a Prohibition-era turf war with his major rival, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito). A man of principle, Tom nevertheless is romantically involved with Leo's lover (Marcia Gay Harden), whose screwy brother (John Turturro) escapes a hit ordered by Caspar only to become Tom's problem. Making matters worse, Tom has outstanding gambling debts he can't pay, which keeps him in regular touch with a punishing enforcer. With all the energy the Coens put into their films, and all their focused appreciation of genre conventions and rules, and all their efforts to turn their movies into ironic appreciations of archetypes in American fiction, they never got their formula so right as with Miller's Crossing. With its Hammett-like dialogue and Byzantine plot and moral chaos mitigated by one hero's personal code, the film so transcends its self-scrutiny as a retro-crime thriller that it is a deserved classic in its own right. --Tom Keogh |
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Overstylized, rambling and boring. |
I had seen Fargo, and was prepped to have a good time with Miller's Crossing. I knew it was meant to be a takeoff on film noir, so I didn't expect great art. Just some fun.
Nope. Even with the stellar acting power of Gabriel Byrne and Albert Finney, this souffle falls flat. There is no -- as in NO -- plot to follow. All you see are guys dressed up like 30's mobsters, trying to talk tough and clever. But their lines aren't actually tough, and they certainly aren't clever.
Halfway in, I commented to my wife, "It's kind of hard to follow," to which she said, It's impossible. Nothing's happening." We popped the DVD out at that point, and put in another movie. Maybe if I'd stuck it through to the end, some little thing would have actually happened. But that's not the point of this kind of movie, is it? It's supposed to be a fun ride. Sorry, but no.
For a fun Coen movie, try Raising Arizona. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
Tom B. |
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Who ever thought a steady calm would chill your bones... |
Often hailed as the Coen brothers finest film; `Millers Crossing' is a brilliant gangster film that exceeds the film the Academy decided to embrace this given year (yes, I'm talking to you `GoodFellas'). `Millers Crossing' is quiet when it needs to be, shocking when necessary, and always effortlessly chilling.
The film tells the story of Irish gangster Tom Reagan, lieutenant to crime boss Liam O'Bannon. O'Bannon's power is challenged by rival crime boss Johnny Caspar, and soon things start to shift within the O'Bannon clan. When it is revealed that Reagan is having an affair with O'Bannon's lover Verna his is cast out of the family and soon finds himself negotiating with Caspar. Tom has some outstanding gambling debts that threaten his life, and Verna's brother Bernie has been making trouble for Caspar, so they make a deal.
If Tom helps Caspar with his problem, Caspar will help Tom with his.
The film is a solid gangster film that embellishes all the great things about this particular genre. It is violent, extremely at times, but it is also very sullen. The film possesses this unsettling calm, this effortless ease that permeates each scene and gives off this purified feeling of dread. This is especially noticeable in the forest scenes that just reek of fantastic, caressing the audience with its faux sense of serenity.
We can all get down on our knees and praise cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld for this.
The same calm accomplished by the direction is also evident in the marvelous acting on all fronts. The film is carried on the shoulders of Gabriel Byrne, who marvelously captures the repressed hostility within Tom's actions. As great as Byrne is, the supporting cast is so much better. Miss Harden is flawless, delivering a distilled sensuality that just envelopes her character and everyone around her. Jon Polito is effectively repulsive as Caspar, and J.E. Freeman is chillingly horrific as Eddie Dane, Reagan's biggest opponent. Albert Finney is marvelous as Liam O'Bannon, capturing the paternal instincts as well as the killer ones. He reminds me somewhat of Tony Soprano, likable yet deadly, but in a vastly different way.
The films biggest stand out would have to be John Turturro though, such a brilliantly layered performance. He goes from sadistic to emotionally crippled with effortless ease, and his whole breakdown in the woods, where he begs for his life, is the film single greatest moment. What makes that moment so fantastic is the mirrored moment that comes towards the end, where Bernie tries his hand at the same plea...
"Look into your heart."
...but you can tell, as he can, that this time it won't work. You can see on his face that he knows that you know that everyone else knows that we can see right through this façade.
"What heart?"
`Millers Crossing' is a marvelously crafted epic that will leave your blood chilled and your heart cold, and that is beautiful when considering the genre. There are countless efforts made in this regard, to create a gangster film that get everything right, but rarely does it happen with such effortless grace. The Coen's have a huge following, and they have won awards for films such as `Fargo' and the recent `No Country for Old Men'; but to me, `Millers Crossing' is probably their finest hour. It saddens me that this film was entirely ignored by Oscar. |
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Strong period piece |
With a bit of tightening-up, this powerful period piece could be even stronger. I'm merely suggesting some editing out of a few unnecessary bits and shortening of some rather lengthy scenes.
That said, this film features a complicated plot, a superb cast, quite a bit of gangster/Prohibition era violence, beatings and shoot-outs, great music, and beautiful photography by Barry Sonnenfeld, who went on to become a director not long afterwards. The Coens did not fare well with this at the box office, as it places many demands on the audience, but it is worth seeing at home if you have the patience to pay attention to it and stick with it.
Gabriel Byrne is riveting as the troubled and put-upon main character, while the very emotional John Turturro proves that no one is better than he is at begging for his life.
And if you like hats, well, you will be in hat heaven!
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Runnin things. It ain't all gravy. |
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A highly stylized and satisfying version of the 1930's underworld. A chesslike plot melodramticaly propels characters. The scene where Leo defends an attack on his house with a Thompson sub machine gun is one of my favorite action scenes of all time. |
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Excellent! |
Another Coen Brothers movie that surpasses all expectations. Gabriel Byrne, John Turturro, Albert Finney, Steve Buscemi, and Marcia Gay Harden perform exceptionally. It is a disturbing and suspenseful drama that flows along effortlessly and catches the viewer up in a way that he is gripping the seat he is sitting on. This movie brings you into the Coen Brothers' minds and shows you how much immeasurable creativity they have.
A definite choice for Coen Brothers' fans as well as for fans of suspense. |
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