Spoiler alert: This synopsis may contain information that could be considered spoilers to some readers.
Miller's Crossing is one of my favorite Coen brothers movies. It helped a lot, of course, that all of the actors were well cast. Jon Polito as Caspar was his usual superb self, somehow managing to simultaneously keep his character both likable and despicable. Gabriel Byrne as Tom was a great punching bag who somehow emerged from every beating just as handsome as he was before it started. J.E. Freeman was excellent as Caspar's psychopathic gay hit-man. John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum, the apparently gay brother of Verna, added an ongoing menace to the film. Marcia Gay Harden was wonderful as Verna and looked perfect in the role.
Since I don't think I can improve on previous positive reviews, I would prefer to address the gay innuendo that is present throughout the movie but is frequently overlooked. It is certainly not the central focus of the story which is probably why so few viewers pick up on it (and even as a gay viewer, I have to include myself among them). Once all the clues are pointed out, you wonder how you could possibly not have seen them.
First of all, we can be sure that at least three of the characters are gay: Psycho hit-man Eddie Dane and his lover, Mink. Also there is Bernie Bernbaum who is having a secret and potentially dangerous affair with Mink, largely for the purpose of gaining information. Below are some of the clues, not necessarily in order:
Clue one: The movie opens with Caspar and Eddie Dane in Leo's office. Caspar is trying to get Leo to allow him to put a hit on some guy named Bernie whom he suspects of hurting his fixed bets by selling information. Bernie, however, is the brother of Leo's girlfriend, Verna, so Leo is very reluctant. Leo suggests that maybe Eddie's friend Mink is responsible for the betrayal. Eddie quickly comes to Mink's defense and Caspar backs him up by saying that Mink is Eddie's "boy". In another moment during that scene, Eddie and Tom exchange knowing glances that suggest more than mutual disdain or admiration. My take on that moment is that Eddie is sadistically attracted to Tom and that is exactly how Tom sees it. I don't think the attraction is mutual.
Clue Two: In the scene where Tom is at the club talking to Mink. The conversation more than suggests that Eddie and Mink are lovers and that Mink is having an affair with Bernie behind Eddie's back. Tom tells Mink that it wouldn't be good if Eddie were to find out that Mink has another "amigo" because he doesn't take Eddie for the understanding type. Mink quickly becomes very concerned that Tom might squeal on him.
Clue Three: Tom is talking to Caspar, trying to convince him that Eddie is a betrayer. During that scene, Caspar again says that Mink is Eddie's boy. He even adds that he, himself, doesn't go that way. Tom, referring to Eddie and Mink, says something to the effect, "There's always that wild card (a slight pause, he raises his eyebrows) where love is involved."
Clue Four: After Tom pushes his way into the ladies' powder room to talk to Verna, she tells him how her brother is misunderstood just because he's "different".
Clue Five: There is also the scene in Tom's apartment where Bernie says that his own sister tried to seduce him and the suggestion is that she was trying to make him heterosexual.
I know that some people see homoeroticism between Leo and Tom but I don't see anything erotic about their relationship. I think they love each other and are deeply devoted to each other but that's as far as it goes.
As a bit of trivia, in real life Joe Polito who plays Caspar, and J.E. Freeman who plays Eddie Dane, really are openly gay.
Miller's Crossing is one of my favorite Coen brothers movies. It helped a lot, of course, that all of the actors were well cast. Jon Polito as Caspar was his usual superb self, somehow managing to simultaneously keep his character both likable and despicable. Gabriel Byrne as Tom was a great punching bag who somehow emerged from every beating just as handsome as he was before it started. J.E. Freeman was excellent as Caspar's psychopathic gay hit-man. John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum, the apparently gay brother of Verna, added an ongoing menace to the film. Marcia Gay Harden was wonderful as Verna and looked perfect in the role.
Since I don't think I can improve on previous positive reviews, I would prefer to address the gay innuendo that is present throughout the movie but is frequently overlooked. It is certainly not the central focus of the story which is probably why so few viewers pick up on it (and even as a gay viewer, I have to include myself among them). Once all the clues are pointed out, you wonder how you could possibly not have seen them.
First of all, we can be sure that at least three of the characters are gay: Psycho hit-man Eddie Dane and his lover, Mink. Also there is Bernie Bernbaum who is having a secret and potentially dangerous affair with Mink, largely for the purpose of gaining information. Below are some of the clues, not necessarily in order:
Clue one: The movie opens with Caspar and Eddie Dane in Leo's office. Caspar is trying to get Leo to allow him to put a hit on some guy named Bernie whom he suspects of hurting his fixed bets by selling information. Bernie, however, is the brother of Leo's girlfriend, Verna, so Leo is very reluctant. Leo suggests that maybe Eddie's friend Mink is responsible for the betrayal. Eddie quickly comes to Mink's defense and Caspar backs him up by saying that Mink is Eddie's "boy". In another moment during that scene, Eddie and Tom exchange knowing glances that suggest more than mutual disdain or admiration. My take on that moment is that Eddie is sadistically attracted to Tom and that is exactly how Tom sees it. I don't think the attraction is mutual.
Clue Two: In the scene where Tom is at the club talking to Mink. The conversation more than suggests that Eddie and Mink are lovers and that Mink is having an affair with Bernie behind Eddie's back. Tom tells Mink that it wouldn't be good if Eddie were to find out that Mink has another "amigo" because he doesn't take Eddie for the understanding type. Mink quickly becomes very concerned that Tom might squeal on him.
Clue Three: Tom is talking to Caspar, trying to convince him that Eddie is a betrayer. During that scene, Caspar again says that Mink is Eddie's boy. He even adds that he, himself, doesn't go that way. Tom, referring to Eddie and Mink, says something to the effect, "There's always that wild card (a slight pause, he raises his eyebrows) where love is involved."
Clue Four: After Tom pushes his way into the ladies' powder room to talk to Verna, she tells him how her brother is misunderstood just because he's "different".
Clue Five: There is also the scene in Tom's apartment where Bernie says that his own sister tried to seduce him and the suggestion is that she was trying to make him heterosexual.
I know that some people see homoeroticism between Leo and Tom but I don't see anything erotic about their relationship. I think they love each other and are deeply devoted to each other but that's as far as it goes.
As a bit of trivia, in real life Joe Polito who plays Caspar, and J.E. Freeman who plays Eddie Dane, really are openly gay.
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