Miller's Crossing

Miller's Crossing
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joel Coen
Produced by	Ethan Coen
Written by	Joel Coen Ethan Coen
Starring	Gabriel Byrne Marcia Gay Harden John Turturro Jon Polito J. E. Freeman Albert Finney
Music by	Carter Burwell
Cinematography	Barry Sonnenfeld
Edited by	Michael R. Miller
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	September 21, 1990 (1990-09-21)
Running time	115 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$14 million
Box office	$5,080,409

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Miller's Crossing is a 1990 American neo-noir gangster film, with elements of black comedy, written, directed and produced by the Coen brothers, and starring Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro, Jon Polito, J. E. Freeman, and Albert Finney. The plot concerns a power struggle between two rival gangs and how the protagonist, Tom Reagan (Byrne), plays both sides off against each other.

In 2005, TIME chose Miller's Crossing as one of the 100 greatest films made since the inception of the periodical. TIME critic Richard Corliss called it a "noir with a touch so light, the film seems to float on the breeze like the frisbee of a fedora sailing through the forest."

Tom Reagan is the advisor and right-hand man for Leo O'Bannon, an Irish mobster and political boss who runs an unspecified U.S. city during Prohibition. When Leo's rival, the Italian gangster Johnny Caspar announces his intent to kill bookie Bernie Bernbaum, Leo goes against Tom's advice and extends his protection to Bernie. Bernie is the brother of Verna, who has begun a relationship with Leo – while also carrying on an affair with Tom.

Tom tries everything he can to convince Leo to give Bernie up to Caspar to end the war; he attempts to convince Leo that Verna is playing him to protect her brother, but Leo will not be swayed. After an assassination attempt on Leo, Tom reveals his affair with Verna to Leo to prove that she is dishonest. Leo beats Tom, and turns his back on both of them. Tom then approaches Caspar looking for work, and Caspar commands him to kill Bernie in the woods at Miller's Crossing to prove his loyalty. Bernie pleads with Tom to spare him, saying "Look in your heart". Tom fires his gun to fake the killing and tells Bernie to run and hide.