Miller's Crossing
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Movie Reviews of Miller's Crossing
Movie Review: "Nobody knows anybody... not like that."
Summary: 5 Stars
After being very disappointed with "Once Upon A Time in America" this weekend, I decided to watch another gangster movie that I had never seen before. This one gave me hope as it was done by the very brilliant Coen Brothers. And I'm happy to say that this time I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I had to watch it again the next day! "Miller's Crossing" is a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece for all the right reasons.The story gets pretty complex, as this is from the Coen Brothers. It focuses Tom, a cold and smart-aleck lieutenant who works under an Irish Mob Boss, Leo. Things get ugly when Leo gets into a disagreement with an Italian underboss who feels that he is getting a raw deal. Things also get more complicated when Tom falls in love with Leo's woman. Sooner or later Tom's going to have to decide who's side he's on and who his enemies really are. All of this leads to an uncontrollable scenario with the signature Coen twists and surprises.
I loved everything about this film. From the very first minute I was hooked. Sure, it starts out kind of slow, but this is almost necessary in all of the Coen movies. There needs to be a heavy build-up so it can all come together. And once things start spinning, it doesn't stop until the ending credits. I loved how well-written the film was too. It relies heavily on dialogue, but we love hearing the conversations these characters get into. There's a lot of dark and subtle humor in it too, although it is a more serious film for the Coen Brothers.
The acting is also superb. Gabriel Byrne is fantastic as the cold and heartless Tom, who always has something smart or sarcastic to say. There is no way I could see anybody else playing the role. It suits him that well. John Turturro is also wonderful in his role and really gets to show off his acting ability. One of his better roles, I think. Everybody else in it is also terrific.
There's really not much to the DVD, which is a shame. I'm glad that it has finally come out on DVD and all, but it would've been nice to see a few more extras added to it. The special features included are cast interviews, trailers, a still gallery, and an interview with Barry Sonnenfeld. The Barry Sonnenfeld interview I found very interesting as he explains the look and feel of this movie as opposed to the other Coen movies he has worked on. The picture and sound quality is really good and brings out the tone of the movie.
"Miller's Crossing" is a definite winner in my mind. It is now quickly becoming a new favorite of mine. If you're looking for a great crime film with a story, interesting characters, and an overwhelming plot, this is the one to see. As with some of the other Coen movies, this one tends to get graphically violent at times, but it is never gratuitous and is always appropriate to the story. An excellent Coen film that is bound to give you a new look into the Mafia world.
Movie Review: Men with hats.
Summary: 5 Stars
Everyone here is comparing *Miller's Crossing* to the *Godfather* films, usually unfavorably. Here's the deal: Coppola's gangster epics have the greater scope, but the Coens' movie is FAR more intelligent. Myself, I prefer the narrower scope with the greater smarts. -- Now that THAT'S out of the way. . . . *Miller's Crossing* is the movie that announced to the world that the Coen Brothers were a major force to be reckoned with in cinema. At least according to us film snobs. Professional American film critics, who aren't film snobs generally speaking (profitable blurbs to write, you understand), sniffed and complained that the film over-intellectualized the gangster picture. Well, whatever -- they hated Welles while he was alive, too. Anyway, Fox has FINALLY released the movie in DVD format, and it's like seeing the movie for the first time all over again. What a great film! The plot, which basically has to do with a Number-Two man's conflicted loyalties between his boss, his boss's girlfriend, and his own interests, amazes with its complexity. One can easily see how the Coens arrived at a creative crisis in the writing of the story. They took a break from *Crossing* mid-stream and amused themselves by dashing off the screenplay for *Barton Fink*, a movie about writer's block (well, more or less). But their hard work here paid off big-time: the plot, while labyrinthine, never feels bogged down. It UNFOLDS, at a perfect pace, like a great novel: revelations here, character development there, and everywhere seemingly throwaway bits of fun (like the surreptitious removal of a dead man's toupee). But rest assured, there's nothing truly "throwaway" in this film. Every object has a symbolic meaning; every line of dialogue is there for a reason. Remove one line, and the structure falls (to paraphrase F. Murray Abraham in another context). And all the while, the plot has been culminating toward the realization of the movie's central theme, which I won't spoil for you. The final haunting image in the movie is a sucker-punch worthy of Chaplin's *City Lights*: we finally see the protagonist revealed as he really is. This script is the work of masters who demand your active participation. In other words, don't watch this with the kids gamboling about in your living room. [The DVD has some interesting press-junket interviews with Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, and John Turturro, all of them unknown at the time. (Albert Finney -- who I've forgotten to mention in this review, but he's magnificent as Byrne's mob-boss/father-figure -- was the only name that I, at least, recognized when the movie came out back in 1990. The daring casting says a great deal about the Coens' taste in actors, as all three have since become name-stars.) Turturro, in his piece, sums up the movie's theme in one beautifully stated summation.]Movie Review: Hats Off All the Way Around
Summary: 5 Stars
A rich, complex masterpiece of a movie. Like a fine old tapestry, the overall effect is wonderful to behold; then you begin to examine it closely, and the artistry involved in each thread and every weave becomes dazzlingly apparent. This is a movie that commands your complete attention as it unfolds; immediately begins to haunt you when it ends; and then continues to beckon to you for another viewing.The script is labyrinthine, centering around Tom Regan (Gabriel Byrne) as he maneuvers among competing factions of the mob (Albert Finney, Jon Polito, and others) during the Prohibition era. Mystery builds as one double cross piles on top of another while unexpected twists and turns complicate the puzzle. The viewer is kept entertainingly off-balance throughout. Nothing is predictable; surprises abound; and yet, by the time the closing credits roll, everything is resolved in a way that makes perfect sense, with each character having remained true to himself (or herself) all along.
Characters this complex demand the most of the actors playing them, and happily, the entire cast of "Miller's Crossing" is uniformly superb. Gabriel Byrne underplays beautifully, imbuing Tom with a supernatural calm that always seems just-this-close to erupting into something frightening and violent. Albert Finney gives one of his finest performances as the gangster kingpin who is slowly beginning to lose control of both the rackets and the local politicians; the scene in which he senses invaders in his home and slowly but surely plans his escape strategy is brilliantly played. John Turturro scores heavily as a conniving second-rate hood who wants to move into the big-time; and Marcia Gay Harden (always an underrated actress despite her eventual supporting actress Oscar win for "Pollock") is nothing short of perfection as his toughly protective - and confidently sexy - sister who can more than hold her own among the male denizens of this seedy underworld.
Add to this marvelous mix of script and cast some razor-sharp editing, a lush musical score, exquisite cinematography, and intelligent direction, and what you end up with is a film that begs to designated a genuine classic of the American cinema. For once 20th Century-Fox Home Video has done justice to one of their DVD releases. This edition offers a sharp video transfer and clear audio. The DVD also includes the Theatrical Trailer for this film and two other Coen Brothers offerings, "Barton Fink" and "Raising Arizona"; very insightful interview clips with Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, and John Turturro on the making of the film; an unfortunately limited (and mediocre) stills gallery; and an audio commentary. This is one you'll want to own and watched repeatedly; each viewing promises to expose additional layers of nuance and intrigue.
Movie Review: One of my all-time favorites
Summary: 5 Stars
Miller's Crossing is still largely a cult classic, tragically. This movie is among the finest crime films of all time. The film is incredibly realistic, from the grittily real period dialogue, set design, and wardrobe to the engrossing tale of depression-era mob maneuvers and double-crosses that keeps twisting and turning until the final conclusion. Everything works, and the film is so utterly compelling that it deserves a more lofty position among the greatest crime films of all time.The production values are extraordinarily high. The Coens display a nearly obsessive attention to detail to recreate the time and setting of depression-era Chicago. The dialogue is sumptuous and full of colorful language and local aphorisms. Wardrobe, lighting, and sound all come together to form a distinct feel. This is the most period-accurate film I have ever seen.
But all of that would mean nothing without effective storytelling and acting. The story revolves around Tom (Gabriel Byrne), right-hand man of a local, benevolent mob boss, Leo (Albert Finney). When he disagrees with his boss on whether or not to surrender a bookie (John Turturro), whose sister (Marcia Gay Harden) is romantically involved with both Leo and Tom, to an opposing mob boss (Jon Polito). What erupts is gang warfare, leading to shifting allegiances, deception, and a fascinating examination of duty and ethics. This is a character-driven tale, and it succeeds largely because of its very talented cast. Byrne is perfect as Tom, who comes off as apathetic, even psychopathic at times, but he is actually highly principled if you consider the context of his actions. Albert Finney is also marvelous as Leo, the well-meaning but somewhat incompetent gangster leader. John Turturro is genuinely hateful as a slimy bookie who tries to manipulate Tom's misfortunes to his own advantage, even after Tom saves his life. Jon Polito is great, as always, playing a very contradictory character very averse to getting the "high hat." Marcia Gay Harden, though, steals the show in an Oscar-nominated turn as a two-timing grifter. All of these actors are immaculately cast and give excellent performances.
All things considered, this movie is one of the most complete, moving, and spellbinding historical epic and crime film ever made. This is definitely one to see, and hopefully someday this film will be able to take its rightful place among the best films ever made.
Movie Review: A classic gangster film by the Coen brothers.
Summary: 5 Stars
Miller's Crossing was released in 1990. It was a modest success and was relatively well received by critics. I saw the movie when it came out and liked it but thought it was nothing special. Repeated viewings on home video have made me change my opinion; it is now one of my favorite films. Albert Finney is Leo, an Irish mob boss in an unnamed Eastern city during prohibition. Gabriel Byrne is Tom, his right hand man, a drunk and a compulsive gambler. Jon Polito is Caspar, a lesser mobster who comes to Finney to get permission to kill Bernie Birnbaum (played by John Turturro), a bookie who has been profiting from information about boxing matches fixed by Polito. Finney refuses, saying to Polito that Turturro pays him protection money just like he does. In reality, Finney doesn't want to harm Turturro because he's romantically involved with the bookmaker's sister, played by Marcia Gay Harden.
The performances by the leads are excellent. Albert Finney and Gabriel Byrne are superb. Jon Polito is fantastic in every scene he appears. There is an unforgettable assassination-attempt scene where Albert Finney jumps out of a second floor window and then lets his Thompson submachine gun do his talking for him. I originally thought that Turturro's perfomance was more annoying than anything else, but even that has grown on me. It's said that an actor making you dislike his character is a sign of the excellence of the protrayal. The newly released DVD is fine and the sound quality is noticeably better than the tape. There is unfortunately no director's commentary track, a inexplicable major fault. The documentary interviewing cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld somewhat makes up for this. In this documentary Sonnenfeld says that Turturro told him that he based his performance as a whiny double-dealing homosexual Jew on his observations of Sonnenfeld on the set. The movie has a polished yet artificial look that is somehow wholly appropriate. Just like a Shakespeare play, despite the fact that you can never forget that you are watching actors emoting on a (sound)stage, the writing and the performances are so good that it doesn't matter.