MILLER’S CROSSING (1990)

The years have not been kind to this, the Brothers Coen move into big time moviemaking after two striking low-budget hits (BLOOD SIMPLE/’84; RAISING ARIZONA/’87).  With costs more than double the last two combined, this ‘30s gangster piece looks like a world class museum exhibit with not a dust mote in sight.  And while critically praised, it was about as well attended as a period display room on a Tuesday afternoon at that museum.  Same for the boys’ next two (BARTON FINK/’91; HUDSUCKER PROXY/’94), completing the Ethan/Joel Coen high Snark Trio before they rescued their commercial rep with FARGO/’96.  The problem not so much that the boys were always the smartest guys in the room and worked over people’s heads, but that they went out of their way to let us know they were the smartest guys in the room and condescended to their on-screen characters and their audience.  Gabriel Byrne stars (sucking almost as much energy out of scenes and mise en scène as John Shea, that era’s champ soporific), he’s the wiseguy assistant to local crime boss/political ‘fixer’ Albert Finney (exceptional, but gone for most of the second half).  Pals and competitors, both men currently getting it on with mystery lady Marcia Gay Harden.*  Complicating the situation, Jon Polito (laying it on thick as impasto) hopes to replace Finney after he uses Byrne to rub-out usurping Jew John Turturro.  (Byrne has left himself open for blackmail & temptation by gambling debts spinning out of control.)  Studded with big violent set pieces (enough ordinance for a WWI film), weirdly amateurish stunt-doubling, and poorly staged fights not even Barry Sonnenfeld’s handsome lensing can hide; no more than the narrative cracks in logic & continuity or the regrettable Coen contempt for paying customers.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  *Never thought of it before, but what a provocative name: Marcia Gay Harden.  Yikes!

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  Alongside the Coens, screenplay credit is shared with Dashiell Hammett.  And why not?  O BROTHER, WHERE ARE THOU?/’00 gives the same honor to Homer.