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Miller's Crossing
1990 115 min United States of America R 16+
★7.8
Drama, Thriller, Crime
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Trailers
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Description
Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.
Budget:
$14M
US Gross:
$5.08M
Worldwide:
$5.08M
Starring
Gabriel Byrne
Actor
Albert Finney
Actor
John Turturro
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1990
— Silver Shell – Best Director
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1990
— Golden Shell
Key opinion
Miller's Crossing is widely regarded as a stylized, intellectual subversion of the traditional gangster film, praised for its sharp dialogue, atmospheric cinematography, and complex anti-hero narrative. While some critics view it as an essential masterpiece of the genre, others find the plot overly convoluted or feel the adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's work lacks the depth of the source material.
| Screenplay | The screenplay utilizes razor-sharp, quotable dialogue that effectively balances dark humor with existential themes. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography creates a vivid and immersive Prohibition-era atmosphere that successfully contrasts urban grit with haunting, naturalistic beauty. | |
| Acting | Gabriel Byrne provides a compelling anchor for the film, portraying Tom Reagan with a stoic, cold-blooded pragmatism that masks deep-seated weariness. | |
| Originality | The film functions as an ironic, self-aware deconstruction of gangster tropes, though some viewers feel this stylistic detachment hinders emotional engagement. | |
| Screenplay | The complex, multi-layered plot rewards attentive viewers with a satisfying puzzle, while others find the narrative structure disjointed and confusing. | |
| Adaptation | Die-hard fans of Dashiell Hammett’s source material argue that the adaptation distorts the original characters and strips away moral substance for the sake of stylized maneuvering. |