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Miller’s Crossing

Rating

Director

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Screenplay

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Length

1h 55m

Starring

Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Jon Polito, J.E. Freeman, Albert Finney, Mike Starr, Al Mancini, Richard Woods, Thomas Toner, Steve Busccemi, Mario Todisco, Olek Krupa, Michael Jeter, Lanny Flaherty

MPAA Rating

R

Review

The Coen brothers are known for taking on bizarre subject matters and exploring them with dark comedy. The first film I saw of theirs was “Raising Arizona” which was interesting, but certainly lacked a lot in my mind. Then I saw “Fargo,” one of 1996’s more critically acclaimed films. Still, I wasn’t impressed. Now, with “Miller’s Crossing,” I finally have a reason to sing their praises.

The story opens in the middle of a negotiation. A mob underling, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), has come to the Don, Leo O’Bannion (Albert Finney) for a favor. Along with him is his lackey Eddie Dane (J.E. Freeman). Apparently someone has been skimming his bets, taking away some of his money. Caspar wants him dead. The only problem is that the guy who he suspects of doing it, Bernie (John Turturro) happens to be the brother of O’Bannion’s current flame Verna (Marcia Gay Harden). O’Bannion is reluctant and will not agree. Caspar throws a fit and bursts out of the room.

O’Bannion’s protégé, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), finally steps forward and speaks. He suggests that Leo not piss off too many underlings, it might cause a revolution. Unfortunately, Leo is blinded by one thing: love. What he doesn’t realize is that Reagan has also been seeing Verna on the side. Confused yet? Well, mobster movies often have the tendency of doing that, but in the end, everything comes out all right.

“Miller’s Crossing” capitalizes on the Coen’s knack for witty dialogue and writing skills and also benefits from its to-the-letter performances. The Coen brothers don’t allow very much improvisation if at all. The plot twists and turns many times, but never gets overly confusing and you’re always in-step with it.

It’s not only the acting and plot that make the story, but also the visual style (something the Coen brothers would probably cringe at). They have the ability to make poetry out of action. Similar to the use of classical music in Stanley Kubrick works, the Coen’s have one scene where Leo is sitting in bed listening to “Oh Danny Boy” on phonograph while two hit men walk into his house, kill the man downstairs and head up to off the big boss. Only Leo’s been at this for a long time and easily does away with these two as he escapes his burning house. The scene works so well on so many levels that it is a classic in and of itself.

Byrne is fantastic and Finney shows his talent while everyone around them gives equally terrific performances. John Turturro is a marvel and Marcia Gay Harden makes a good femme fatale.

“Miller’s Crossing” is a fabulous gangster movie that stands comfortably in the gangster pantheon.

Review Written

April 17, 1999