Miller’s Crossing DVD Review
Posted by Jacob Ziegler on 05.24.2003
Finally, the remaining Coen Brother’s films have been released on DVD …
Miller’s Crossing DVD
Release Date: May 20, 2003
Rated R
115 Minutes
After waiting for a long time, the final two Coen Brothers’s movies have been released on DVD, Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink. Why there was a delay I am not sure, as their other seven movies were readily available. The Coen’s are known for the eccentricity of their films such as Fargo, The Hudsucker Proxy, and The Big Lebowski, just to name a few. Often when discussions of their movies come up, Miller’s Crossing is overlooked. This is a shame, because Miller’s Crossing is an excellent mafia movie, and one of the few straightforward, serious Coen film. I wrote this review about two years ago, and the film still holds up just as well today.
The Film
All hail the Coen brothers. Filmmakers that possess the diversity these brothers have simply do not exist. From their first film, the noir-ish Blood Simple to their sophomore outing, the silly romp Raising Arizona, the Coens prove they have the ability to make diverse films. They extend on that notion, and improve their skills with their third film, the prohibition-era Mafia tale Miller’s Crossing.
The only real flaw in the film is its apparent lack of direction. Miller’s Crossing is just a series of events that happen to a lot of people, and it gets tough at some points to keep track of the names. After the movie ends, I felt a little unfulfilled, because nothing was really solved, but there was no huge conflict that needed to be solved. Even though this flaw exists, the Coens still manage to make an extremely entertaining motion picture.
The acting is the best of the Coen films thus far. The under-appreciated Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) leads a cast that includes outstanding supporting performances from Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), Steve Buscemi (The Big Lebowski, Fargo), John Turturro (Quiz Show, Barton Fink), and Jon Polito (Barton Fink). The best work comes from the also under-appreciated Turturro, whose role is brief, yet vital to the film’s development. He begs so pathetically for his life on two different occasions, pleading “look in your heart,” to try and convince Tom (Byrne) not to kill him. But he is really a sophisticated businessman, a lot tougher than he makes himself out to be.
Tom, played by Gabriel Byrne, is the most honest man working in the Mafia, but is also the toughest. He works for both sides over the course of the film, first for Leo (Finney), and then Casper (Polito). He is immensely respected due to his honesty, and he somehow always ends up being right. A wonderful subplot is played out between Tom and a woman (played by Marsha Gay Harden), who happens to be Bernie’s (John Turturro) sister. She is usually upset with him, and constantly berating him for “having no heart.” But she loves him very much, even though she is going to get married to Leo. See how it can get a little confusing?
One aspect of the film I found to be surprising is the humor. There are some extremely funny scenes. Their comic wit comes as no surprise after Raising Arizona, but that was a screwball comedy. Bringing humor out in serious situations is a very difficult accomplishment, and the Coens excel at it (the humor is even better in Fargo).
Despite its one flaw, Miller’s Crossing is still an excellent film. Without having much of a plot, it is able to suck the audience in and make them care deeply about Tom, despite the fact that he has no heart. Joel and Ethan Coen are two of the most brilliant minds in the industry, and after establishing themselves with Simple and Arizona, Miller’s Crossing gives them a chance to show off a little bit. They take that opportunity and run with it.
Video Quality
Quite simply, this is one of the best video transfers that I have ever seen. All of the Coen’s movies are highly visual, and the camera work by Barry Sonnenfeld comes through brilliantly here. The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen, with a ratio of 1.85:1.
Audio Quality Miller’s Crossing is presented in 4.0 surround sound. While it is not perfect, it is pretty good. The awesome score by Carter Burwell comes in nicely, and the dialogue never gets muddled.
Extra Features
Not a whole lot here, but what is there is interesting. We get interviews with Barry Sonnenfeld, Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, and John Turturro. There is also a still gallery, and trailers for Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, and Raising Arizona.
Film: 8.5
Video Quality: 9.5
Audio Quality: 7.5
Special Features: 7.0
The 411: For fans of either Coen movies or mafia movies, Miller’s Crossing would be an excellent choice. The DVD is well presented, and was worth waiting for. It is interesting to go back to early in Joel and Ethan Coen’s career and see how they developed as filmmakers. Despite how overlooked it is, Miller’s Crossing is a quality film.
