Miller's Crossing
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Movie Reviews of Miller's Crossing
Movie Review: The Perfect Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Not only is Miller's Crossing one of the Cohen brothers' very best (in a list of countless phenomenal) productions, it is one of the greatest crime/neo-noir films ever made, and possibly even one of the greatest films of the last 40 years.
The story of turmoil and curruption in the world of prohibition era crime is told with such subtlety and careful detail that one is pulled through a complex series of twists and turns in such a way that it all feel perfectly natural.
Gabriel Byrne's alcoholic gambler with a heart of gold (*wink*) is in the vein of Bogart's finest roles. Albert Finney's blinded by love political boss who "dosn't like to think" is the ultimate irish gangster. John Turturro's sniveling bookie is one of his two best performances (see Unstrung Heroes). Marcia Gay Harden is a unique femme fatale. Jon Polito's moronic Italian thug is as funny as it is brilliant. All of these characters give the film a sense of humanity and realism in what is essentially a mob opera.
In addittion to the acting, the films production values create a real connection between the viewer and the world of the film. The contrasts in the film's lighting and production design are not only period perfect (with only the slightest hint of the Cohen Brothers' "more noir than noir" style) but a flawless example of why the film noir style is vital: duality. Everyone wants to be the good guy at some point just like everyone wants to be the bad guy at some point, and no matter what we want we're always a bit of both. Film noir is all about holding a mirror up to the face of humanity. Tragedy, love, deceit, honor, violence, and hollow and imperfect redemtion are all components of a good noir epic and this Cohen brothers' masterpeice has them all in spades.
I have nothing bad to say about this film and would certainly place it on my top ten films of all time list. Watch it tonight!
Movie Review: Fast paced comic strip snapshot of mob violence
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this 1990 film in a theater when it first came out but had generally forgotten it. Except, that is, for one memorable scene. That's when John Turturro, taken to Miller's Crossing for the purpose of being murdered by the mob, begs for his life and Gabriel Bryne, cast as the hit man, has to make a decision. It's all more complicated than that of course. After all, this is a Coen brothers' film where style is everything, and the characters are complex and edgy.
Set in the probation era, the characters are all larger than life. There's Albert Finney as a mob boss who's smart in many ways with the exception of the ways of love. He's fallen for Marcia Gay Harden whose toughness is part of her appeal. She's trying to protect her sleazy brother, played by John Turturro, and she's also romancing Gabriel Bryne. The plot thickens as competing mob bosses are at war with each other and the cool Bryne, who always wears a hat, is playing them all against each other.
The plot is complicated and hard to follow. Good thing for "rewind" and "replay" on my DVD or it would have just raced past me in a blur. It's supposed to be a blur though. The genius of the film is that the plot is just part of the fast paced comic strip snapshot of a time and a place with characters that are so exaggerated that they become symbols rather than real people.
The acting is over-the-top excellent, especially John Turturro. I'm constantly amazed how he is always the most memorable character in film after film. I also loved the details of the setting, especially Ms. Harden's wardrobe and hairdo. There's also an undercurrent of dark humor in the way the characters go about their lives..
I enjoyed the film and stayed up late just to see the interesting extras on the DVD. It was good to revisit it after all these years. Miller's Crossing filmmaking at its finest and I definitely recommend it.
Movie Review: I'm talking about friendship......character.......ethics....
Summary: 5 Stars
Certainly my favorite Cohen brothers film (and I consider myself an aficionado of their work) and one of my favorite films of all-time, Miller's Crossing is a brushstroke of genius, in every way imaginable, a complete masterwork if I've ever seen one.The plot has been summed up in previous reviews: a power-struggle between the Irish mob and the Italians in an unnamed city on the east coast (I'm assuming). It involves complex loyalties and trusts, forged and broken, keeping you guessing character motives and alliances until the very end.
Gabriel Byrne plays the wonderfully dark Tom Regan, right hand man to the always-brilliant Albert Finney's Liam 'Leo' O'Bannon. Everyone in the film shines. I was particularly taken with Jon Polito's Giovanni `Johnny Caspar' Casparo. On the surface, a hot-headed simpleton, but underneath, one of the more torn and complex mobsters since Pacino's Michael Corleone.
The theme of the film can be summed up by Johnny Caspar's frustrated expectations of his employees: "Friendship.....character....ethics....." The movie exists as a complicated character study of these traits and how they affect the lives of the many characters involved. Some of the villains in the film seem to live by the `honor among the thieves' credo more so than the films 'heroes' if indeed there are any.
The film looks stunning, as can be expected from the Cohen's, and the aforementioned score is one of the most used in film trailers to this day. The scenes at Miller's Crossing with Tom chasing his hat and then being put to the test later in the film are simply stunning.
All the praise in the world from an amateur reviewer such as myself won't make you see the film, but trust me, if there was such a thing as a perfect movie, for me, this is it.
Now stop givin' me the High Hat and check out the film!
Movie Review: The immortal film of Coen brothers
Summary: 5 Stars
1990 was a year signed by the return of the gangsters. Watch by instance , four relevants movies , Godfahter III , the worst of the trilogy ; Goodfellas ; State of grace and Miller's crossing.
Miller's crossing has been the best film about the mob made not only in the last decade but even now . Sam Mendes made a great effort with Road to Perdition but never reachs this peak of Miller's.
Until now , this has been the best work of the Coen brothers , after their opera prima Blood simple.
The script about a member of the mob club who follows his own honor code reveals clearly the orignal approach given by both brothers , Gabriel Byrne has never best like this one . Add to this the presence of that thousand carats actor Albert Finney , in a perfect role. Marcia Gay Harden grow up as actress with this film.
The puzzle narrative , the dramatic tension and the emblematic violence is told with arresting images , the dramatic bits are shown with artistic commitment , the plot is very credible , adjusted and loaded with poetic realism.
Pitifully the great notice of the rebirth of the Godfather , turned the world attention around this jewel. Once more another mistake was made in prejuice of this film . But warning , despite all the facts , this film and State of Grace will remain in a adjusted match as the one two couple in this genre. The time will be the best judge.
Coen brothers made a unforgettable effort with The man who wasn't there in 2002 , and that film was also ignored . It's hard to believe because the man... was one of three best film in that year . Well you know , it's a taste question but watch and buy Miller's crossing . I watched it in 1990 and I got in DVD as soon as I could.
Please, acquire this one! You'll be always rewarded.
Movie Review: A dangerous intersection indeed....
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the earlier collaborations by the Cohen brothers who co-authored the screenplay, directed by Joel Cohen. I enjoyed it more when I saw it again recently than I did the first time almost 15 years ago because I now have a greater appreciation of Barry Sonnenfeld's brilliant cinematography. The acting is also outstanding, notably Gabriel Byne (Tom Reagan), Albert Finney (Leo), Marcia Gay Harden (Verna), Joe Polito (Johnny Caspar), and John Turturro (Bernie Bernbaum). There are two separate but related plots which are resolved, inevitably, in a violent climax. The first involves relationships between Irish-American and Italian-American gangsters during the 1930s; the other involves Reagan's relationships with his boss, Leo, and Leo's paramour, Verna. The screenplay examines how these and other relationships interact as loyalties are forged and betrayed, ambitions collide, and difficult choices must be made. Bernie Bernbaum is one of the most interesting characters in this film. He is Verna's brother, a silver-tongued bookie, who pays for protection by Leo which proves necessary when he falls deeply into debt to Caspar. The Coens are experts at choreographing almost casual human collisions during the completion of what often resembles a chess game, focusing our attention on a sequence of moves and counter-moves. (That is less true of the Coens' Fargo which has a much tighter plot.) As in The Road to Perdition (2002), this film brilliantly captures its period and locale while examining various types of dysfunctional relationships which have probably existed for thousands of years. Whereas I associate the first and second Godfather films with Tolstoy and Dickens, I associate Miller's Crossing as well as The Road to Perdition with Aeschylus and Sophocles.