Today’s quick review: Miller’s Crossing. Against the advice of his right-hand man Tommy (Gabriel Byrne), mob boss Leo (Albert Finney) goes to war with Caspar (Jon Polito), his upstart rival, to protect Bernie (John Turturro), one of his men. Tensions mount between Tommy and Leo as the gang war tips in Caspar’s favor. The final straw comes when Leo learns the truth: that Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), Bernie’s sister, has been cheating on Leo with Tommy.
Miller’s Crossing is a Prohibition-era crime drama from the Coen Brothers. Miller’s Crossing follows gangster Tommy Reagan, the sharp lieutenant of a powerful mob boss, as he tries to avert a war that could be disastrous to his boss’s organization. The movie features a complex plot, deep characters, interesting conflicts, and the skillful cinematography the Coen Brothers are known for, making it a balanced, grounded, and unusually well-crafted film.
Miller’s Crossing assembles a fascinating story out of basic components. The core conflict is simple: a gang war that tests the loyalty of one of its key secondary players. But woven into this struggle are the ambitions and frailties of half a dozen characters, yielding an organic plot that is both satisfying and difficult to predict. The Coen Brothers’ quirky style is all but absent from the film; they sit back and let the story speak for itself.
Miller’s Crossing also earns points for its characters. Tommy makes for a complex protagonist, an unrepentant criminal fueled by a cocktail of pride, loyalty, and ambition. His actions, though morally questionable, are never one-dimensional. The other characters are just as rewarding to follow. Leo is a capable leader but slow to adapt, Caspar is a dangerous fool, Bernie is a snake in the grass, and Verna is a wildcard, self-serving but not heartless.
Watch Miller’s Crossing when you’re in the mood for a tight, unpredictable crime drama with plenty of moving parts. Its grey morality and limited action won’t appeal to every viewer, but its solid craftsmanship and clever storytelling make it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre. Skip it if you prefer the Coen Brothers’ more stylized work.
For a somewhat more biographical peek at the world of organized crime, try Goodfellas or Casino. For a Prohibition-era crime drama that’s based on a true story, try The Untouchables or Public Enemies. For a darker crime movie about a loyal lieutenant, try The Outsider. For a more minimalistic Coen Brothers crime drama with a similar knack for plot, try Blood Simple.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for well-developed characters and a strong plot.