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| Miller's Crossing 8 of 10 |
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| Directed by Joel & Ethan Coen Cinematography by Barry Sonnenfeld Gabriel Byrne Marcia Gay Harden John Turturro Jon Polito J.E. Freeman Albert Finney Steve Buscemi |
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| This film was made as an homage to Dashiell Hammett's detective works, to the films they inspired, and to the gangster film genre. And it really is excellent. My previous experiences with the Coen brothers were all quirky twists on standard Hollywood formulas; but not this one. This film, they play straight up, and the results are vastly superior to their earlier efforts. The story is about groups of Irish and Italian mobsters battling for control of "an unnamed Eastern city." (Its Chicago, but I'll play along.) But more immediately, it is about a struggle between two proud Irish men: Leo, the town boss (Finney), and Tom Reagan, his right-hand man (Byrne). They have a falling out over a woman - what else - and the consequences of this separation are severe and wide-reaching. The scrip is very complex; you really need to pay attention. If you miss a scene, or even any section of a scene, the story can become hopelessly confusing. But it's well worth the concentration. Turturro, who plays a crooked bookie, is really great, as is Finney in his portrayal of the gruff mob boss. But Byrne is truly outstanding, playing the part of the hardened, yet fiercely loyal assistant who is faced with something that has never happened to him before. The final scene is an amazing testament to his ability. And the film's visuals are simply spectacular. There are two amazing scenes in particular, where the camera work, pacing, and script come together to form absolutely brilliant cinematic moments. Those scenes alone would make this a great film. But it has much more to offer; a really imaginative, loyal, and magnificent reworking of a truly wonderful genre. "You pay off for protection, just like everyone else. Far as I know - and what I don�t know in this town ain�t worth knowin� - the cops haven�t closed any of your dives and the D.A. hasn�t touched any of your rackets. You haven�t bought any license to kill bookies and today I ain�t sellin� any. So take your flunky and dangle." |
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