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Miller’s Crossing (1990)
Posted by Brock Winspear
Miller’s Crossing (1990)
The Coen brothers (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen) really started to get noticed after writing and directing Fargo (1996). The popularity of the indie writers and directors continued to increase with each movie that they made together. However, when most people look back on the Coen brothers’ career as filmmakers, they usually don’t look further back than Fargo. Miller’s Crossing seems to fall between the cracks.
I was 4 years old when this movie was released, but I watched it for the first time when I was 13 years old. It was the first Coen brothers’ movie that I had seen and it was the beginning of a new friendship.
Miller’s Crossing is a gangster film about Tom Regan (Gabriel Byrne), a heavy gambler and trusted confidant to two rival mob bosses during the 1920s. Regan finds himself caught in the middle of a power struggle and all out gangland war while trying to manipulate both sides against each other.
The movie was written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and the rest of the noteworthy cast includes Albert Finney, Jon Polito, John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden, Steve Buscemi, J.E. Freeman, Mike Starr, Olek Krupa, and Michael Jeter.
The film is an excellent homage to the James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart gangster movies of old. The writing and directing is flawless. The Coen brothers resurrected the 1920s gangster era all the way down to the soda bottles, pocket watches, fedora hats, tommy guns, rotary phones, pinky rings, dirty coppers, smoking jackets, robes, stogies, custom three piece suits, and of course, the model T. The costumes and set designs were perfect.
The movie has an R rating, but I don’t think that rating would live up to today’s standards. There is hardly any swearing, and the sex is insinuated. There is violence, but it is not extremely graphic. One scene shows a girl topless, but she is wearing nipple tassels. As far as I’m concerned, that’s frontal side-boob. I don’t think that alone is enough to garner an R rating. In other words, the movie is basically PG-13.
My oldest brother once pointed out to me how the Coen brothers love having big guys sitting behind desks arguing or yelling at people sitting across from them. He was right. Watch almost any Coen brothers’ movie and you will get just that. I think the reason behind this is that usually the dialogue in their movies is so very well-written. An office setting is a good place to get the point across. People tend to pay more attention to you if you are behind a podium or desk, especially if you are yelling or arguing a point. Just look at Barack Obama, or Hitler. Don’t get me wrong, both men are opposites, but both men could definitely deliver a speech. As bad as Hitler was, people eat up what he said like it was candy. They did the same for Obama. Well thought out dialogue delivered to an audience with explosive vigor while standing behind a podium or desk is enough to get people to listen. It certainly has worked for the Coen brothers and Miller’s Crossing is a classic example of that.
The Coen brothers were lucky enough early on to be able to get great actors to act in their movies. This is harder to do for independent filmmakers. Miller’s Crossing is one of my favorite Gabriel Byrne films. He gives a slick performance and it must have been contagious because in my opinion, this is Albert Finney’s best movie. Marcia Gay Harden easily transforms into a 1920s dame and does a likable job. This is the first movie that I really liked John Turturro in. Jon Polito gives his best performance channeling the likes of Edward G. Robinson. Steve Buscemi spits his dialogue like a pro. It was as if J.E. Freeman was plucked right out of a 1920s gangster movie. He played his role that well. These actors have all worn many different hats. This one fit them all like it was tailor made just for them.
Like fine wine, Miller’s Crossing gets better with age. If you are a Coen brothers fan already, you will most likely enjoy this movie. It is one of my favorite Coen brothers’ movies. It’s a classy gangster film.
I rate this movie a 9 on a scale of 1-10.
Buy, rent, or run? Buy.
Posted in Drama Movie Reviews, Gangster Movie Reviews
Tags: Albert Finney, Barack Obama, Edward G. Robinson, Ethan Coen, Fargo (1996), Gabriel Byrne, Gangster Movie, Hitler, Humphrey Bogart, J.E. Freeman, James Cagney, Joel Coen, John Turturro, Jon Polito, Marcia Gay Harden, Michael Jeter, Mike Starr, Miller's Crossing (1990), movie, Olek Krupa, Steve Buscemi, The Coen brothers, Trailer for Miller's Crossing (1990)
Happy Birthday to Albert Finney
Posted by Brock Winspear
Happy Birthday to Albert Finney! He turns 77 today.
Finney is an excellent character actor who started out making TV movies in the 50’s and has had many wonderful supporting roles in his career as an actor. My favorite Finney films are Miller’s Crossing (1990), Big Fish (2003), and most recently Skyfall (2012).
Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 2
Posted by Brock Winspear
Top 13 Current Redbox Movies Vol. 2
If you are thinking about renting a movie from the Redbox, you might want to read this list to help you decide exactly which movie to rent.
Here is another edition of my top 13 current Redbox movies, back by popular demand.
Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews September 2013
Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews August 2013
Click on this link to read Current Redbox Movie Reviews July 2013
Click on this link to read Vol. 1 from 2/10/13.
Click on this link to read Vol. 3 from 4/21/13.
Click on this link to read Vol. 4 from 5/9/13.
I have updated the list based on all the movies that are currently available to rent at the Redbox as of 3/14/13. They will change some of the titles weekly, but the list should still be pretty accurate for a while and hopefully be able to help you find a good movie to rent. I have included the DVD covers and previews. If a movie doesn’t have a cover or preview above it, simply click on the title for my full review of the movie along with the poster artwork and preview.
I do not claim to have seen all of the movies that are currently available at the Redbox, but I have seen 67 of them. Of those 67 movies, here is the list of my top 13 Current Redbox movies:
1. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) My Rating: 10
3. Ted (2012)
4. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) My Rating: 9
5. The Raid: Redemption (2011)
8. Looper (2012) My Rating: 8.5
9. Titanic (1997) My Rating: 8.5
11. Flight (2012)
12. Sinister (2012)
13. Moneyball (2011) My Rating: 8
You really can’t go wrong with any movie on this list. Next time you’re going to the Redbox, I recommend consulting this list. They are in my opinion, the best current Redbox movies.
Now that you have seen my recommended Redbox movies, check out my list of movies to stay away from. Click on the link below:
Top 13 Disappointing Current Redbox Movies
Are you a fan of Netflix? Click on the following links below for Netflix related material:
Netflix Watch Instantly Movie Reviews September 2013
20 Best Drama Movies Based on Real Life Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
20 Best Classics Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best Mind-bending Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best Romantic Comedy Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best War/Military Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
13 Best Gritty Action/Thriller Movies Available on Netflix Watch Instantly
Posted in Redbox Related, Top 10 (err...13) Lists
Tags: Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Albert Finney, America Ferrera, Anna Kendrick, Anne Hathaway, Atticus Shaffer, Ben Mendelsohn, Ben Whishaw, Bennett Miller, Berenice Marlohe, Bernard Hill, Bill Paxton, Billy Zane, Brad Anderson, Brad Pitt, Brian Geraghty, Bruce Greenwood, Bruce Willis, Burn Gorman, Catherine O'Hara, Charlie Tahan, Chris Pratt, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, Clare Foley, Conchata Ferrell, Crispin Glover, Daniel Craig, Daniel Sunjata, Darlene Cates, David Ayer, David Harbour, David Warner, Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Donny Alamsyah, DVD, Eka 'Piranha' Rahmadia, Emily Blunt, End of Watch (2012), Ethan Hawke, Film, Flight (2012), Frances Fisher, Frank Grillo, Frankenweenie (2012), Fred Dalton Thompson, Gareth Evans, Garret Dillahunt, Gary Oldman, Giovanni Ribisi, Glenn Morshower, Gloria Stuart, Iang Darmawan, Iko Uwais, Jack McGee, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Cameron, James Ransone, Javier Bardem, Jeff Daniels, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joe Taslim, Joel McHale, John C. Reilly, John Goodman, John Sharian, Johnny Depp, Jonah Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judi Dench, Juliet Rylance, Juliette Lewis, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Tighe, Lasse Hallstrom, Laura Harrington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Machinist, Marion Cotillard, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Landau, Martin Short, Mary Kate Shellhardt, Mary Steenburgen, Matt Walsh, Matthew Modine, Michael Caine, Michael Hall D'Addario, Michael Ironside, Michael Pena, Mila Kunis, Moneyball (2011), Morgan Freeman, Nadine Velazquez, Naomie Harris, Natalie Martinez, Netflix, Nick Searcy, Noah Segan, Norah Jones, Ola Rapace, Patrick Stewart, Patrick Warburton, Paul Dano, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Pierce Gagnon, Pierre Gruno, Piper Perabo, Ralph Fiennes, Ray Sahetapy, Redbox, Reed Diamond, Rian Johnson, Robin Wright, Rory Kinnear, Ryan Reynolds, Sam J. Jones, Sam Mendes, Scott Derrickson, Seth Macfarlane, Sinister (2012), Skyfall (2012), Stephen Bishop, Tamara Tunie, Tammy Blanchard, Ted (2012), Tegar Satrya, The Dark Knight Rises (2012), The Machinist (2004), The Raid: Redemption, The Raid: Redemption (2011), Tim Burton, Titanic, Titanic (1997), Tom Hardy, Tom Skerritt, Tonia Sotiropoulou, Top Redbox Movies, Verdi Solaiman, Victor Garber, Vincent D'Onofrio, Vyto Ruginis, What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), Winona Ryder, Yayan Ruhian