Albert Finney in 'Miller's Crossing'
In the year 1990, two seminal gangster films were released within months of each other. On one end, Goodfellas served as the culmination of Martin Scorsese's career and the gangster genre entirely, showing that the criminal underworld was both a raucous party and a nightmarish undertaking on the heart and mind.
A film filled with satisfying visceral thrills and meditative poignancy, Miller's Crossing is a Trojan Horse of the gangster genre. Heavily influenced by the work of pulp novelist Dashiell Hammett, particularly Red Harvest and The Glass Key, as well as other classic Warner Bros. gangster films, the Coens' exceptionally channel the rich formalism of the genre. The period setting and attire ooze with personality and flavor.
Miller's Crossing was a dud at the box office, earning a lowly $5 million when released in 1990. Even though it had the makings of a familiarly satisfying crime/noir thriller, the film is just too opaque and meditative to become a highly commercial product. Because it is such a cerebral exercise, packed with a litany of allusions to film history, Miller's Crossing is the Coen brothers' most rewarding film to re-watch.
In particular, Tom grapples with his own existence as a gangster with a code who's simultaneously lost in the wilderness. When recalling a dream he had where he loses his hat in the wind to Verna, she inhabits the role of a critic analyzing the Coens' work. She presumes that Tom retrieved his hat and discovered that the hat had transformed into something with deep sentimentality."Nah," Tom responds.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Dragula’ Season 6 Is Going Back to the Basics With This One ThingThe logo for &39;The Boulet Brothers&39; Dragula&39; Season 6.
Read more »
The Property Brothers Are Back With Another Home Renovation Series&39;Property Brothers&39; Jonathan and Drew Scott on their new series, &39;Don&39;t Hate Your House With the Property Brothers.&39;
Read more »
The Stephen King ‘It’ TV Adaptation You May Not Know AboutScary monsters from Stephen King&39;s &39;It&39;, &39;The Stand&39;, and &39;The Shining&39;.
Read more »
Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland Go After Nazi Treasure in This War ComedyImage from the movie poster for 1970&39;s &39;Kelly&39;s Heroes&39;
Read more »
Gizelle Bryant Will Shine on 'RHOP' Without Robyn DixonGizelle Bryant&39;s promo for &39;The Real Housewives of Potomac.&39;
Read more »
The Best Batman Returns With Yet Another New Hot Toys FigureMichael Keaton aims his grappling gun in Tim Burton&39;s &39;Batman Returns&39;
Read more »