Review of Miller's Crossing (1990) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012

For their third film, Joel and Ethan Coen followed up the mad comedy of Raising Arizona (1987), with this very violent and powerful gangster drama, a better one than The Godfather (1972), and more memorable. Set in a nameless Prohibition-era city, (filmed in New Orleans), it has Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), longtime associate with gangland boss Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney), getting caught in the middle of a potential gang war with rival Italian gangster Johnny Caspar (the always brilliant Jon Polito), who plans to kill crooked bookie Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro). But, Leo has given protection to Bernie, as Leo is in a relationship with his sister Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), who is also having a secret affair with Tom. It's a very complex state of affairs, but we've come to expect it from the Coen Brothers, this is a beautifully shot film, and it captures the era and the dialect perfectly, ("What's The Rumpus??"), plus it also contains the best scene the Coen's have EVER directed, the shootout done to Danny Boy with Albert Finney and THAT Tommy Gun!! :O :D.

For their third film, Joel and Ethan Coen followed up the mad comedy of Raising Arizona (1987), with this very violent and powerful gangster drama, a better one than The Godfather (1972), and more memorable. Although the Coen's get better press for their 'serious' films, this is compelling and has a lot of their usual offbeat touches. Set in a nameless Prohibition-era city, (filmed in New Orleans), it has Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), longtime associate with gangland boss Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney), getting caught in the middle of a potential gang war with rival Italian gangster Johnny Caspar (the always brilliant Jon Polito), who plans to kill crooked bookie Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro). But, Leo has given protection to Bernie, as Leo is in a relationship with his sister Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), who is also having a secret affair with Tom. However, after Leo is nearly killed in an assassination attempt, Tom tells Leo the truth. Leo kicks him out, and Tom goes to join Johnny Caspar's gang where he ends up having to kill Bernie Bernbaum. It's a very complex state of affairs, but we've come to expect it from the Coen Brothers, this is a beautifully shot film, and it captures the era and the dialect perfectly, ("What's The Rumpus??"), plus it also contains the best scene the Coen's have EVER directed, the shootout done to Danny Boy.