Miller’s Crossing, one of the greatest gangster movies ever made, is an extremely underrated movie created by The Coen Brothers. As one of the best directing duos of all time,The Coen Brothers have directed classic filmssuch asThe Big Lebowski,Inside Llewyn Davis,Fargo, andNo Country for Old Men. Joel and Ethan Coen have directed a total of 20 films together beginning with the 1984 neo-noir crime filmBlood Simple.
Following their feature film debut, the Coen Brothers' sophomore effort was the 1987 crime comedyRaising Arizona, which remains one ofNicolas Cage’s most iconic roles. They then went on to direct the showbiz comedyBarton Fink, the satirical comedyO Brother, Where Art Thou?, the black comedyBurn After Reading, and the instant classic WesternTrue Grit.The Coen Brothers' last joint effort was 2018’sThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
The Coen Brothers' Miller’s Crossing Is One Of The Best Gangster Movies Ever Made
It won nearly universal praise from critics
While the Coen Brothers are mostly recognized for their Oscar-winning films such asNo Country for Old MenandFargo, their underrated filmMiller’s Crossingis quietly one of the best gangster movies ever made.With a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s one of the most critically acclaimed movies in the Coen Brothers' filmography. Peter Traves ofRolling Stonesaid of Miller’s Crossing, “The Coens' take on Depression-era gangster flicks, looks gorgeous and showcases John Turturro’s best acting ever.”
10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Miller’s Crossing
Miller’s Crossing, the Coen brothers' third feature, is wildly different than others in their filmography. We share off-camera fun facts.
Most critics agree thatMiller’s Crossingis one of the greatest gangster films ever made.Varietywrote in their review, “Substance is here in spades, along with the twisted, brilliantly controlled style on which filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen made a name.” Renowned film criticRobert Ebertwrote in his review, “Miller’s Crossing is not quite as successful as it should be” acknowledging it as a fiercely underrated movie despite its exceptional quality.
Why Isn’t Miller’s Crossing Discussed On The Same Level As Other Beloved Gangster Movies
The Coen Brothers were still years away from their best-known works
Miller’s Crossinghas an outstanding ensemble cast led by frequent collaborators John Turturro, Gabriel Byrne, and Steve Buscemi. Even thoughMiller’s Crossingreceived high critical acclaim upon its release,the movie was a box office failure, earning just under $5 millionagainst an estimated production budget of $10-14 million.
These key factors likely played a major role in keepingMiller’s Crossingout of the pool of definitive gangster classics likeThe Godfather,Goodfellas, andScarface. Since the Coen Brothers didn’t have a big box office hit until the release ofFargo, it makes sense thatMiller’s Crossingwasn’t an immediate success despite its high praise.
Miller’s Crossing
Cast
Miller’s Crossing is a crime drama directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film follows Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, as he navigates a volatile dispute between two rival gangs. Set against a backdrop of betrayal and shifting loyalties, the story delves into the complexities of Reagan’s moral and ethical choices. Albert Finney and John Turturro also star in this intricate narrative of power and deception.
