Miller’s Crossing (1990)
Miller’s Crossing is one of my husband G. Grod’s favorite films. We watched it early in our courtship as part of our getting-to-know-each-other-via-media-we-loved.
What’s the rumpus?
I think it’s one of, if not THE, best Coen Brothers film. G. and I saw The Glass Key (1942) earlier this week, based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett. Miller’s Crossing is based both on The Glass Key and Red Harvest.
Gabriel Byrne is Tom, the cynical right hand man of Albert Finney’s crime boss Leo. Irish Leo is dating Verna (a wonderful Marcia Gay Harden), who asks him to protect her brother Bernie. The Eye-talians in town don’t like Jewish Bernie–”It’s a matter of ethics”–and a gang war ensues. Lots of people end up dead. Unlike The Glass Key, there’s not an artificially upbeat ending.
The film is beautifully shot, and uses the cinematography to show a lot of the story, rather than having someone tell it. There are memorable shots, both gorgeous and gruesome. Carter Burwell’s Irish-influenced score also does a lot to create mood in the film. There are any number of great lines,
Black is white. Up is down.
Careful viewing is rewarded. Finney is dressed as a maid for a scene in a women’s bathroom. Parents of young children will probably recognize as a bookie’s agent the late Michael Jeter, who also played Mr. Noodle’s brother Mr. Noodle from Elmo’s World on Sesame Street. Sam Raimi shows he’s better behind the camera than in front of it in a gleeful attack scene. Frances McDormand (married to Joel Coen) has a cameo as a secretary.
Next up in related viewing will probably be Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, based on Red Harvest, the other source book for MC, and Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone’s Fistful of Dollars, a remake of Yojimbo. And maybe some cheerful movies in between.
March 13th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I put “Fargo” and “Raising Arizona” over “Miller’s”. But it’s up there.
March 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I am one of those who never “got” Raising Arizona. And I need to re-watch Fargo.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I love Miller’s Crossing. Certainly need to watch it again.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
It definitely holds up to repeat viewings. G. Grod pointed out to me that Wil Wheaton used the line from it, “Look into your heart!” last week when he asked for votes for geek of the year over Joss Whedon. Given the synchronicity, and that I DO think he’s a bigger geek than Joss (though Joss does have that musical theater tendency) I voted for Wheaton.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
What about Big Lebowski?
Barton Fink is good, too.
April 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am
OK, OK, Miller’s Crossing is my fave of their dramas, except perhaps for their first, Blood Simple, which was a stunning first film. Lebowski is def. my fave comedy of theirs.