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Miller's Crossing

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
134K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,314
121
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gabriel Byrne and John Turturro in Miller's Crossing (1990)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:44
3 Videos
84 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

Tom Reagan, an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.Tom Reagan, an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.Tom Reagan, an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, tries to keep the peace between warring mobs but gets caught in divided loyalties.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
134K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,314
121
  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
    • Dashiell Hammett(novels "Red Harvest" and "Glass Key")
  • Stars
    • Gabriel Byrne
    • Albert Finney
    • John Turturro
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
    • Dashiell Hammett(novels "Red Harvest" and "Glass Key")
  • Stars
    • Gabriel Byrne
    • Albert Finney
    • John Turturro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 375User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 16 nominations

    Videos3

    Miller's Crossing
    Trailer 2:44
    Miller's Crossing
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990
    Clip 4:04
    5 Forgotten Gems From 1990
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers

    Photos84

    Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, and Marcia Gay Harden in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Gabriel Byrne, John Turturro, Al Mancini, and Mike Starr in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Gabriel Byrne and John Turturro in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Gabriel Byrne in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    John Turturro in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    John Turturro in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Albert Finney in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Gabriel Byrne in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Marcia Gay Harden in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Jon Polito in Miller's Crossing (1990)
    Gabriel Byrne and Marcia Gay Harden in Miller's Crossing (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gabriel Byrne
    Gabriel Byrne
    • Tom Reaganas Tom Reagan
    Albert Finney
    Albert Finney
    • Leoas Leo
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Bernie Bernbaumas Bernie Bernbaum
    Marcia Gay Harden
    Marcia Gay Harden
    • Vernaas Verna
    Jon Polito
    Jon Polito
    • Johnny Casparas Johnny Caspar
    J.E. Freeman
    J.E. Freeman
    • Eddie Daneas Eddie Dane
    Mike Starr
    Mike Starr
    • Frankieas Frankie
    Al Mancini
    Al Mancini
    • Tic-Tacas Tic-Tac
    Richard Woods
    • Mayor Dale Levanderas Mayor Dale Levander
    Tom Toner
    Tom Toner
    • O'Dooleas O'Doole
    • (as Thomas Toner)
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Minkas Mink
    Mario Todisco
    • Clarence "Drop" Johnsonas Clarence "Drop" Johnson
    Olek Krupa
    Olek Krupa
    • Tadas Tad
    Michael Jeter
    Michael Jeter
    • Adolphas Adolph
    Lanny Flaherty
    Lanny Flaherty
    • Terryas Terry
    Jeanette Kontomitras
    • Mrs. Casparas Mrs. Caspar
    Louis Charles Mounicou III
    • Johnny Caspar, Jr.as Johnny Caspar, Jr.
    John McConnell
    John McConnell
    • Cop - Brianas Cop - Brian
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
      • Dashiell Hammett(novels "Red Harvest" and "Glass Key") (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Tom Reagan (played by Gabriel Byrne) is the right-hand man, and chief adviser, to a mob boss, Leo (Albert Finney). Trouble is brewing between Leo and another mob boss, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), over the activities of a bookie, Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro) and Leo and Tom are at odds on how to deal with it. Meanwhile, Tom is in a secret relationship with Leo's girlfriend, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), who happens to be the sister of Bernie. In trying to resolve the issue, Tom is cast out from Leo's camp and ultimately finds himself stuck in the middle between several deadly, unforgiving parties. —grantss
    • irish mob
    • loyalty
    • organized crime
    • power
    • violence
    • 114 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What's the rumpus?
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writers Joel Coen and Ethan Coen suffered writer's block while writing Miller's Crossing (1990). They took a three week break and wrote Barton Fink (1991) a film about a writer with writer's block. The name of Tom Regan's residence is "The Barton Arms". In one of the newspapers an article reads 'Seven Dead in Hotel Fire,' another reference to Barton Fink.
    • Goofs
      When Tom throws the glass at the mirror in the woman's washroom, the cracks in the glass change between shots.
    • Quotes

      Tom Reagan: Nobody knows anybody. Not that well.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits list production companies, the title, and the main cast. The crew is not listed until the ending credits, starting with a director credit.
    • Alternate versions
      Although there is no mention of this on the packaging, the Criterion Blu-ray edition released in 2022 is over two minutes shorter than the theatrical release version. Among the cuts are Frankie's line 'Jesus, Tom' after Tom hits him in the face with a chair, and the line 'Take care now' said by Lazzare's messenger after Tom is subjected to a beating.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Pacific Heights/King of New York/Miller's Crossing/Texasville (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Danny Boy
      Music by Rory Dall O'Cahan (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Frederick Edward Weatherly (uncredited)

      Sung by Frank Patterson

    User reviews375

    Review
    Top review
    masterpiece
    In my modest opinion, this film is the Coen's greatest achievement to date, even greater than Fargo. I was happy to see so many recent entries on this page, because that means something I predicted long ago is coming true: film buffs are finally "discovering" Miller's Crossing, an underground masterpiece that has dwelt in obscurity for ten years.

    The central motif of the hat, and Johnny Caspar's preoccupation with the altitude thereof, brings to mind another underrated masterpiece, Drugstore Cowboy. The complex Jungian symbolism of forests, doors and especially hats is my favorite aspect of the film.

    The only criticism I've heard of this film (and I think it's B.S.) has to do with the "over-acting"--a criticism that has been directed at more than one Coen film. Admittedly, Coen screenplays read more like novels than movie scripts and are not always actor-friendly. Gabriel Byrne, who appears in all but two scenes, does a great job playing an extremely complicated character. Tom Reagan is a smart guy surrounded by morons, and exists in a scenario where only muscle counts and brains don't. And he hates it. And he hates himself because he knows he's all brains and no heart. He tries to redeem himself through a selfless devotion to Leo, whom he hates. All this makes for an immensely challenging part, and the film could easily have fallen apart with a lesser actor than Gabriel Byrne playing the lead.

    But the acting is great from top to bottom: Marcia Gay Harden (in her big screen debut) as the hard-boiled moll; Jon Polito as the maniacal Johnny Caspar; Steve Buscemi as the hop-addicted Mink; J.E. Freeman, who is such a marvellous screen villain you have to wonder why he's still toiling in obscurity; and Albert Finney, an actor who embodies the term "screen presence." But the Grand Prix goes to John Turturro, who carries the most powerful scene in the movie: when Tom takes Bernie out to Miller's Crossing to "whack" him.

    Another criticism frequently levelled against the Coens is that they are preoccupied with "scenes" and don't focus enough on plot coherence. This too is an invalid criticism, as far as I'm concerned. Some people are irritated by a film that you have to watch a couple times to fully understand, but that's precisely the kind of film that I love, and that's why I love Miller's Crossing so much. Every time I see it I pick up on something that I didn't catch before.

    Speaking of "scenes", the "Danny Boy" scene is the best. The second best is the following scene, where Tom and Terry walk through a hallway lined with goons. The third is the police raid on the Sons of Erin Club, in which Leo takes on the entire police force.

    I'll resist the temptation to call Miller's Crossing "The Greatest Film of All Time"--because who has the right to say that? But I must say that it is my favorite film of all time.
    helpful•184
    52
    • meisterpuck
    • Mar 18, 2001

    FAQ8

    • What is the Italian song sung by Frankie at Miller's Crossing?
    • Is "Miller's Crossing" based on a book?
    • What does "schmatte" mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 5, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Irish Gaelic
      • Yiddish
    • Also known as
      • De paseo a la muerte
    • Filming locations
      • 619 Gravier Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Circle Films
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,080,409
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $28,202
      • Sep 23, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,080,409
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Feb 23Slash Film

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