chaswe-28402 This is a parody of Hammett and Chandler, liberally mixed with Damon Runyon, but more sardonic than comical. Byrne is a Philip Marlowe type, although he's on the non-moral side of the gangster. Nevertheless he's still over-concerned with ethics, just like the Chandler hero. He gets beaten up all the time. He drinks plenty. He gambles a lot, but he has ethics. He feels like a sawn-off leg. In fact, this film is all about ethics; the ethics of crime, and gangsterism. Unethical gangsters don't last. Many of them are gay. This film was enjoyable and worth a watch, but somehow it didn't fully satisfy. It revealed the Coens as essentially experimental film-makers, prone to adopting other people's styles. Perhaps they are deeply shallow in the long run. Who shot the rug ? Did I miss something ?

Scott LeBrun Gabriel Byrne is aces as Tom Reagan, a top adviser to Prohibition-era Irish gangster Leo (Albert Finney). Tom is absolutely cold-blooded, yet does have his own personal code. Tom and Leo end up having a falling-out over a woman named Verna (Marcia Gay Harden, in her first substantial film role). And so Tom ends up associating with Italian mob boss Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), incurring the suspicion of Caspars' number one henchman Eddie Dane (J.E. Freeman). As the elaborate story unfolds, Tom plays every angle he can think of to come out on top.Still, he takes a TON of physical punishment as this plays out. Although it may be a little difficult investing time in a character who's so antiheroic, he is a compelling character, and it would be hard not to feel SOME sympathy for him every time he gets a fresh beating.Overall, "Miller's Crossing" is well worth a look, especially for any fan of filmmaking brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It's quite an absorbing story, and the impressive cast has such a field day with the Coens' memorable dialogue that it makes a one hour and 55 minute run time almost fly by. The Coens do a respectable job at recreating the period (what city or town in which this takes place is never really specified) while indulging in various amusing bursts of in-your-face violence certain to delight some people and repulse others. It's all enhanced by a haunting and lovely score by frequent Coen brothers collaborator Carter Burwell, still a somewhat under valued composer.Finney is quite likeable, while a young and fiery Harden leaves quite the impression in the only major female role. Polito is a scene stealing live wire, in contrast to the more icy cold Freeman as the brutish Dane. John Turturro is highly effective playing Vernas' brother Bernie, a truly wretched weasel if ever there was one. Familiar faces in smaller roles include Mike Starr, Steve Buscemi, Olek Krupa, Michael Jeter, and Michael Badalucco.A good, well-told, potent story of friendship, loyalty, and survival instinct, with characters doing whatever they have to do to get by.Look for Sam Raimi, a longtime friend of Joel and Ethan, and Joels' wife Frances McDormand, in quick cameos.Eight out of 10.

seymourblack-1 Dark, brooding and full of intrigue, "Miller's Crossing" was the third movie to be written, produced and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and in the opinion of many, was also their best. It's certainly good to watch because of its rather involved story, its eccentric characters and the droll humour that's such a trademark of the Coens' work. Typically, for a gangster movie, no-one can be trusted and there are plenty of betrayals, double crosses and deceptions. More surprisingly, however, there are also some occasions where certain individuals, uncharacteristically, show genuine loyalty and aspire to act ethically.In the late 1920s, Irish mobster Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) who has both the Police Chief and the Mayor on his payroll, is also the de facto political leader of an unnamed Eastern city in the United States. In his day to day work he values the sound advice that he's regularly given by his friend and fellow gangster, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) but when he's visited by his rival, an Italian mobster called Johnny Casper (Jon Polito), a situation arises in which he feels unable to follow Tom's advice.Leo learns that a bookie called Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro) has routinely been disclosing information about Casper's fixed fights to other gamblers and in order to stop the losses that he's been suffering; Casper is intent on eliminating Bernie without delay. When Leo says that Bernie pays for protection and isn't to be touched, Casper becomes both furious and frustrated. The real reason that Leo doesn't agree to the hit is because Bernie's sister Verna (Marcia Gay Harden) is his mistress. Tom tries to get Leo to change his mind by telling him that Verna is a grifter who's just using him but Leo isn't prepared to listen.Everything changes after a failed hit on Leo triggers a gang war. Tom discloses that he's having an affair with Verna and then also switches sides to work with Casper. In order to prove his loyalty to his new boss, Tom is ordered to kill Bernie and although he makes it look as if he's done so, he actually lets the treacherous bookie go. This proves to be a bad move because the fact that the hit was not witnessed, puts Tom in a tight spot when he gets targeted by Casper's sadistic henchman Eddie Dane (J.E. Freeman) and blackmailed by Bernie. Furthermore, in order to end the gang war and settle a few scores in the process, Tom not only manipulates the events that follow so expertly that he achieves his various aims but also does so in a way that unequivocally proves his loyalty to Leo.Jon Polito is terrific as the hot-headed Casper who despairs at the lack of ethics that he encounters in his business dealings and says "if you can't trust a fix, what can you trust?". Marcia Gay Harden does well as the heartless, two-timing Verna and John Turturro is brilliant as the repulsive Bernie. Albert Finney as the tough gangster who shows more humanity than most and Gabriel Byrne as the story's great schemer, are also both perfect in their lead roles."Miller's Crossing" is very stylish, well-written and features some magnificent cinematography which as well as being aesthetically pleasing, contributes so much to the atmosphere of the piece. What makes it most absorbing, however, is the quality of its story and the idiosyncrasies of its characters.

zaremskya-23761 This film was not brought to my attention until I was already well into the Cohen Brothers. It's not one of their better known titles such as Fargo or Raising Arizona, but it should be highest on their list, as it is truly a masterful work of cinema.The film, visually, is beautiful. The cinematography has a very classic, noir look to it. The dialogue is sharp, the acting is solid. The story is pretty standard but done in such a professional way.Basically, two big mob bosses are feuding and the characters are either part of the feud or get caught up in it, much to their dismay. There are a lot of artistic touches the Cohen Brothers add that enhance the style of the film, such as a hat motif that extends throughout the work.Anyone who is a fan of the Cohen Brothers or film noir should definitely see this film. It astounded me and I consider it an underrated work by the brothers.