Miller's Crossing

Miller's Crossing

Year: 1990

Runtime: 115 min

Language: English

Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

DramaThrillerCrime

During Prohibition, an Irish-American gangster named Leo O'Bannon struggles to maintain order amidst a volatile power struggle with the Italian Mafia. The situation becomes even more complicated when his trusted advisor, Tom Reagan, begins a dangerous affair with Verna Bernbaum. This exposed relationship disrupts the fragile peace, igniting a violent gang war over control of the liquor trade that jeopardizes everyone involved. Loyalties are tested, and betrayal lurks around every corner as Leo fights to protect his family and his business.

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Timeline & Setting – Miller's Crossing (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Miller's Crossing (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Prohibition Era

The Prohibition era in the United States was marked by the banning of alcohol, which led to the rise of organized crime syndicates. This tumultuous time saw fierce power struggles as gangs fought for control over illegal activities, including gambling and bootlegging. It reflects a society grappling with lawlessness, loyalty, and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals caught in the crossfire.

Location

Miller's Crossing

Miller's Crossing serves as a pivotal location in the film, representing both a physical and symbolic battleground for loyalty and betrayal amidst the crime-ridden landscape of Prohibition-era America. This area is known for its darker undertones tied to organized crime and the moral complexities that come with it. It becomes a crucial site where the fates of the characters collide, highlighting the high stakes of their dangerous choices.

🏙️ City 🔫 Crime

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

Main Characters – Miller's Crossing (1990)

Meet the key characters of Miller's Crossing (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tom Reagan

Tom Reagan is a cunning and conflicted character caught in a dangerous game of loyalty and love. As the right-hand man to mob boss Leo O'Bannon, he faces moral dilemmas that challenge his values and relationships. His complexity lies in his ability to navigate the treacherous landscape of crime while remaining emotionally entangled with Verna and Bernie.

👤 Main Character 🎩 Mobster

Leo O'Bannon

Leo O'Bannon is a formidable Irish mob boss whose authority and charisma command respect. His devotion to his loved ones, particularly to Bernie and Verna, sometimes blinds him to the dangers surrounding him. As tensions rise, Leo's suspicions and fierce protectiveness reveal a more vulnerable side beneath his tough exterior.

👔 Boss 🔥 Fierce Protector

Johnny Caspar

Johnny Caspar is a ruthless Italian gangster determined to maintain his control over the criminal underworld. His single-minded approach reveals the lengths he will go to eliminate threats to his power. Caspar’s antagonistic relationship with Leo escalates into a violent rivalry, showcasing his unyielding character traits in the face of betrayal.

💼 Gangster 💀 Antagonist

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

Major Themes – Miller's Crossing (1990)

Explore the central themes of Miller's Crossing (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Loyalty vs Betrayal

The theme of loyalty versus betrayal runs deeply throughout the narrative of Miller's Crossing. Characters are often faced with difficult decisions that challenge their allegiances, resulting in a web of deceit that impacts their fates. Tom's struggle highlights the personal cost of loyalty and the tragic consequences that arise from betrayal in the ruthless world of organized crime.

💔 Love and Deceit

Romantic relationships in Miller's Crossing are laced with deceit and complicate character motivations significantly. Tom's feelings for Verna impact his decisions, leading him into a morally ambiguous labyrinth. This theme underscores the intense emotional turmoil that can accompany love, especially within the context of a treacherous underworld.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:29

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Gangster power struggles like in Miller's Crossing

Stories of calculated betrayals and shifting loyalties in organized crime.Discover movies like Miller's Crossing that delve into the complex power dynamics of the criminal underworld. These crime dramas feature calculated characters, strategic betrayals, and high-stakes conflicts for control, perfect for fans of sophisticated gangster narratives and tense, morally grey storytelling.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a protagonist, often an advisor or lieutenant, who plays a dangerous game of chess with rival factions. The plot unfolds through a series of schemes, double-crosses, and strategic alliances, leading to a climax where the balance of power is violently reset, often at great personal cost.

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These films are grouped by their shared focus on the intellectual and brutal mechanics of a gangland power vacuum. They share a dark, cynical tone, complex plotting, and a heavy emotional weight derived from the inevitable moral decay and personal losses incurred in the pursuit of power.

Bittersweet endings like in Miller's Crossing

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Narrative Summary

The narrative journey involves a character making difficult, morally compromising choices to overcome a central conflict. While they may technically 'win' or survive, the resolution emphasizes what was sacrificed along the way—loyalties, love, or personal integrity—leaving them in a state of ambiguous, often lonely, peace.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared emotional arc and concluding feel. They deliver a heavy emotional weight through endings that are more contemplative than celebratory, focusing on the price of survival in a harsh world. The tone is often dark or melancholic, with a steady, deliberate pacing that lets the emotional fallout resonate.

Unlock the Full Story of Miller's Crossing

Don't stop at just watching — explore Miller's Crossing in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Miller's Crossing is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Miller's Crossing Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Miller's Crossing, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Miller's Crossing Summary

Miller's Crossing Timeline

Track the full timeline of Miller's Crossing with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Miller's Crossing Timeline

Miller's Crossing Spoiler-Free Summary

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Miller's Crossing Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Miller's Crossing

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