Millers Crossing Screening Report

Millers Crossing directed by Joel and Ethan Coen is a 1990 film based in a random city during the time of prohibition. This film as a more modern rendition on the classic gangster film genre. The Coen brothers do a nice job through out this film to expand the expectations of what a gangster film can be with out trying to remake the classic gangster films such as The Godfather. The Coen brothers could have made a 1990 remake of The Godfather (Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas) instead they created a unique gangster flick that steps outside the set precedent.
One interesting thing that the Coen brothers focus on through out the film is the main character Tom who always is chasing after his hat. This concept of someone chasing their hat can be very symbolic. Hats through out time and even to this day are a symbol of wealth and power. For example at still to this day at the Kentucky Derby women try to wear the most luxurious hats to show their status. So a hat for someone can be a very important thing to their character, hats for many people act as a safety net for them. By this I mean that some people fell like they need their hat or they are not complete and can not be their whole self. Someone who is constantly chasing their hat can symbolize that they are are powerless, moronic and not in control of their surrounding situations. In the film when Tom is around other gangsters where he needs to be feared and intimidated, he is always seen wearing his hat. Whereas in scenes when it is only Tom and his lover Verna he is seen with out his hat which may be interpreted as Tom only being complete when he is with Verna.

Research Proposal

The film that I would like to focus my research paper on is How High directed by Jesse Dylan. The 2001 film staring Method Man and Redman as two students who score perfect scores on their “Thc’s” allowing them to attend any university in the country. They decide to attend the historic Harvard University, where their formal education flourishes. Yes this film is a intended to be a comedy but it does raise many interesting concepts, such as the use of herbal medicines. The one scene in particular that I want to focus on is in the opening scenes when you first meet Method Man’s character Silas and his use of marijuana for various home remedies . I would like to focus on Silas’ interest in this subject of herbal medicines through out the film.