Miller's Crossing

Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney
Director: Joel Coen
Genre: Drama
Year: 1990
Rating: 4 / 5

Any gangster film that is ever made will invariably be compared to The Godfather, and to call this unjust is an understatement. The Godfather was not the first such film to be made, nor will it be the last, yet it still serves as the definitive film about the inner workings of an old-world crime organization. Miller's Crossing may not be at the level of Mario Puzo's epic masterpiece, but it is nonetheless a remarkable film, one which features some sterling performances by its leads and a soundtrack that is among the best I have heard. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the true talents of Gabriel Byrne, one of the most talented, though undervalued, dramatic actors of the decade.

Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is the right-hand man of Irish crime boss Leo O'Bannion (Albert Finney), the man who controls the city's police and its government officials. Times are changing, and Leo is not the savvy businessman that he once was. Outdated notions of loyalty and the hypnotizing charms of his mistress Verna (Marcia Gay Harden) are causing him to lose his grip on the city. This is allowing Italian mobster Johnny Caspar (Joe Polito) to grow in power, a fact which is not lost on Tom. While Leo is blind to the realities of this power struggle, Tom must convince him that certain daring tactics must be employed if they are to remain in power.

While Tom Reagan is an intelligent, able-bodied man, he is not without his vices. Huge gambling debts, and the mobsters to whom he owes this money, follow him everywhere, and he is also having an affair with the very same Verna. It is Tom's revelation of this second fact which ultimately drives the two men apart, forcing Tom to leave the "family" that has been his for years. Unfortunately, with him out of the way, the danger to Leo and his empire is greater than before, and Tom must find some way to protect his one-time employer and friend. It is left to this very flawed character to find some semblance of order in a city whose very essence is a remarkably consistent sense of chaos.

Gabriel Byrne portrays the conflicted Tom Reagan with his usual stoic demeanor, conveying just the right amount of distance for a criminal with a heart. His sense of honor is rather compelling, although it does conflict at times with his astute business sense. Byrne's Reagan serves as the epicenter for this hectic and, at times, very real world of the Prohibition Era. Albert Finney adds a nice crusty touch to the sometimes-fiery Leo O'Bannion, and Joe Polito is actually quite funny as Leo's chief adversary Johnny Caspar, a crime lord who tries to double as a loving father. I have never been a huge fan of the Coen brothers - Joel and Ethan, the film's production team - but I must say that Miller's Crossing might force me to give them a second look. This film's indelible images with be captured in your mind long after the powerful soundtrack fades to silence...

Cast:

Gabriel Byrne..........	Tom
Albert Finney..........	Leo
Marcia Gay Harden..........	Verna
Jon Polito..........	Johnny Caspar
J.E. Freeman..........	Eddie Dane
John Turturro..........	Bernie

Certification: Rated R for violence.
Running Time: 115 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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