In 1929, Tom Reagan is the intellectual right-hand man to Leo, one of the city's political bosses. Leo is being harassed by gangster Johnny Caspar to kill Bernie Bernbaum, who is cutting into his action, but Leo refuses because of his love for Bernie's sister, Verna. Unfortunately, Tom is also in love with Verna, and the feelings that both men have for her will lead to a gang war that threatens to destroy them all.
An Irish gangster (Albert Finney) and his trusted lieutenant (Gabriel Byrne) and counselor find their domination of the town threatened by an ambitious Italian underboss (Jon Polito). Just as this threat erupts, the two sever their friendship when they realize that they love the same woman (Marcia Gay Harden). When one joins ranks with the enemy, a bloody gang war erupts. Violent and compelling work from the Coen brothers.
The Coens' initial concept for "Miller's Crossing" was "Big guys in overcoats in the woods -- the incongruity of urban gangsters in a forest setting."
Star Gabriel Byrne said of his role, "All through the picture, Tom is battling with the idea of love and the idea of giving himself to another person. The turning point for Tom is at Miller's Crossing -- Bernie gets through to his heart and he lets go. From then on everything goes haywire, and he determines never again to be ruled by his heart." Byrne was married to actress Ellen Barkin, whom he worked with on "Siesta," at the time this film was made.
John Turturro describes his character's role in the film, "In a way, it's like 'Dr. Faustus,' but in the Dashiell Hammett vernacular. I'm kind of a devilish character, and I'm sort of like a phantom, appearing and disappearing. And all my scenes are through Tom, so I really exist through him... Bernie's very quick-thinking. He's much more verbal and intellectual; he's dangerous, but more with his mind and his mouth."
Turturro also appeared in two Spike Lee movies, "Do the Right Thing" and "Mo' Better Blues," and starred in the Coens' next film "Barton Fink" (1991). He also appeared as a cop in another of 1990's many gangster films, Phil Joanou's "State of Grace." In 1993, he directed his first film "Mac."
Actor Trey Wilson was originally intended for the role of Leo, but he died in New York on January 16, 1989.
Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, who also did the Coens' two previous films "Blood Simple" and "Raising Arizona," made his directorial debut with "The Addams Family."
Director Sam Raimi makes an appearance in "Miller's Crossing." Joel Coen worked on Raimi's film "Evil Dead."
Frances McDormand, who starred in "Blood Simple," has an unbilled cameo.
Film debut for stage actress Marcia Gay Harden.
Vintage automobiles provided by the New Orleans "A's" Club.
Estimated budget $14 million.
Shot in New Orleans, Louisiana in Panavision. Color by DuArt. Filming began January 27, 1989.
Opening film at the 1990 New York Film Festival. Screened at 1990 London Film Festival.
Released in New York City September 22, 1990 and Los Angeles and Toronto October 5, 1990; wider release October 19, 1990.
Released on video April 4, 1991.
Rated BBFC 18 by the British Board of Film Classification.
Miller's Crossing Quotes/Excerpts:
"Intimidating helpless women is part of my job." -- TOM
(Gabriel Byrne) to Verna in a women's room
"Then why don't you find one and intimidate her." -- VERNA (Marcia Gay Harden)
Miller's Crossing Reviews:
"...Spare, resonant and astonishingly beautiful....A jewel of a gangster film..."
-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"...MILLER'S CROSSING assumes a precision of correspondence between content and form which is all to rare in the cinema today..."
-- Tim Pulleine, Sight and Sound
"...The film is a primer in screen virtuosity....Both film and actors somehow manage to seem realistic and stylized at the same time..." -- 4 out of 4 stars
-- Mike Clark, USA Today
"...MILLER'S CROSSING is a stately and respectful genre treatise....Joel and Ethan Coen are meticulous filmmakers....It's filled with a great deal of beauty, skill, and a kind of ironic truth..."
-- Frank Thompson, Film Comment
"...[An] elegiac, stylish gangster movie....It has somber, poetic images and an especially fine musical score that braids its Irish themes together hauntingly..."
-- Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times
"...This is the most elegant, most forceful and -- arguably -- simply the best film the Coen brothers have yet produced..."
-- Ceri Thomas, Total Film
"[A] deliriously twisty homage to hard-boiled '40s gangster flicks....If you haven't seen it, do so, stat! It's a masterpiece." -- Grade: A-- Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
Customer Miller's Crossing Reviews Customer Miller's Crossing DVD Reviews
Average Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)
It's not the typical "ganster" movie! I knew Coen Brothers talent with "Miller's Crossing". It was the first movie I watched from them. Although "Blood Simple" and this one are quite different I would say that both of them are my favorites. While their debut is more ”simple”, this one has a more complex plot...but you won’t miss Coen’s subtle touch of humor. There is a shot in which an Irishman realizes that some gangsters want to kill him. That part of the movie will be stuck in my mind forever. As a curiosity...the title in Spain is "Muerte entre las flores" ("Death between the flowers"). Submitted by christian_grierson (Madrid, SPAIN) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Excellent Miller's Crossing is perhaps the best movie ever created by the Coens, and I love all of their work, especially The Big Lebowski, O Brother, and Fargo. However, Miller's Crossing is a title that is not often mentioned when talking about the work of the Coen Brothers. It's sad, really, because this movie is phenomenal. It is stylistically head and shoulders better than 80% of the gangster movies out there. Miller's Crossing should be mentioned in the same sentence as the Godfather, Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, Once Upon a Time in America. Check it out if you can. I coulnd't find it in video stores, so i bought it online, and i was not disappointed. Submitted by Jesse (CT, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Lacking the Coen brothers' flair I was pretty disappointed with this movie.It doesn't have the usual punch that the other Coen brothers' movies have. Submitted by Blake (Brandon,MS) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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Miller's Crossing DVD
Miller's Crossing DVD Features
Region 1 NTSC Keep Case Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85 Letterbox - 1.85 Additional Release Material: Interviews:
1. Marcia Gay Harden - Star 2. Gabriel Byrne - Star 3. John Turturro - Star Trailers:
1. Original Theatrical Trailer 2. BARTON FINK 3. RAISING ARIZONA
It's not the typical "ganster" movie!
Lacking the Coen brothers' flair
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