 |
Dr. Wily has declared that this article is still under construction. This page has three weeks by which to achieve the minimum standards for a full page (or Stub minimum), after which it shall be moved to Speedy Deletion. After I finish this article, the world will be mine! MWAHAHAHAHA! |
| “ | TOM REAGAN: [on finding someone sitting in the dark in his apartment] Hello Bernie. BERNIE: Hello Tom. What's the rumpus? How'd you know it was me? TOM REAGAN: You're the only one I know who'd knock and then break in. BERNIE: Your other friends wouldn't break in, huh? TOM REAGAN: My other friends want to kill me so they wouldn't've knocked. |
„ |
| ~ Bernie and Tom's first discussion. |
| “ | Don't smart me! See I wanna watch you squirm; I wanna see you sweat a little, and when you smart me... it ruins it. | „ |
| ~ Bernie taunting Tom and threatening to expose him if he crosses him. |
Bernie Bernbaum is the main antagonist of the Coen brothers gangster film Miller's Crossing. Throughout the film, Bernie proves to be a sleazy sell-out who only looks after himself. A grifter who constantly backstabs anyone who threatens him, he is both a thorn in everyone's side and a deadly threat if underestimated. He is Verna's brother and the former lover of Mink, who is murdered by him to cover up his escape. He is also Tom Reagan's arch-nemesis.
He was portrayed by John Turturro, who also played Mo Flatbush in Mo Better Blues, Jesus Quintana in The Big Lebowski, Monkeybone in the film of the same name, the Rat King in The Nutcracker in 3D, the Goat in Green Eggs and Ham, Mr. Silk in The True Adventures of Wolfboy and Carmine Falcone in The Batman.
Personality[]
Bernie is a rat of the worst kind. Constantly valuing his own self-preservation over all else. As Johnny Caspar explains, Bernie possesses no ethics as he shamelessly skims off the top of his racket without considering the consequences for doing so. When talking with Tom, Bernie puts up a calm and collected façade, offering to help Tom with his debt in return for protecting him from Caspar. He claims that he never sells out his friends, despite the fact that he had no problem screwing over his former boss. However, he can maintain his professionalism only when he feels that he has control over the situation and gets easily flustered when confronted with the concept of dying. When he's brought out to Miller's Crossing, he begs and pleads for his life as he's held at gunpoint by Tom by imploring him to "look in his heart."
After being spared and given a chance to flee, Bernie instead decides to blackmail Tom into killing Caspar for him. This shows that he is both ungrateful and very arrogant when he sees an opportunity to take advantage of. This also reveals a very dangerous and sociopathic side. He uses his lover Mink Larouie as a body double after killing him and placing it in Miller's Crossing, showing that he's willing to kill people who could be a hinderance to him. Bernie also claims that he takes pleasure out of seeing Tom in a panic, showing hints of sadism. After killing Caspar, he begins to giggle maliciously, showing how depraved he truly is. However, when he realizes that Tom intends to kill him for his backstabbing ways, he reverts to his usually timid and cowardly self as a way to avoid karma, only to get his just deserts with a bullet in the brain.
His relationship with his sister Verna is unknown do to the lack of scenes with both of them. However, it's shown that he sees her as a "sick twist," and criticizing her for trying to save him. This implies that he only sees Verna as a means to an end, for her putting a word in Leo's ear about protecting him from his "friends." This shows that Bernie's incapable of caring about anyone but himself, making him a callous crackpot. There's also a hint of an incestuous relationship between them, but that could be just Bernie lying.
Overall, Bernie is a self-righteous, ignorant, petty, hypocritical, self-serving, manipulative, paranoid, and egotistical con artist who constantly abuses people's sympathy to serve his own ends. In the end, he dies at the hands of the man who spared him from execution, fittingly considering Bernie sold Tom out like everyone else in his life.
Biography[]
Bernie's Betrayal[]
Bernie Bernbaum is a bookie in the employ of Italian crime lord Johnny Caspar, but he secretly sells his rigged bets to outside parties for a bigger pay-off. Along with fellow bookie "Mink" Larouie, he's avoided retribution thus far. This results in Caspar wanting him dead and asking Irish political boss Liam "Leo" O'Bannon for permission to whack him. However, since he's in a relationship with Bernie's sister, Verna Bernbaum, he refuses his request. This angers Caspar who vows to get payback on Leo for giving him "The High Hat." Leo's right-hand Tom Reagan, warns him that risking war with Caspar would only lead him to trouble in the long run, but Leo dismisses it. Unknown to Leo however, Tom is having an affair with Verna, making the situation a lot more complicated. Tom also tries to convince Verna to give up Bernie, but Verna is unwilling to give up her own flesh and blood. Meanwhile, the gang war between Johnny and Leo only escalates as Tom is caught in the middle of the carnage, with Caspar wanting to hire him to get rid of Bernie.
Bernie makes his first appearance after Tom returns to his apartment, sneaking in and sitting in his chair. Tom asks about Verna and Leo, with Bernie saying that he didn't have anything to do with the situation. He also badmouths her saying that Verna would sleep with anyone, despite the fact that Verna thinks highly of him. They discuss the current situation and Bernie attempts to bribe Tom with a rigged bet so that he can pay back Lazarre with his gambling debt. Tom says that he'll think about it before he leaves. Not long afterwards, Leo survives an assassination attempt that leads to him to continue his war with Caspar. Imploring Leo once more, Tom reveals his affair with Verna in order to make Leo see that this war is pointless. Instead, he is kicked out of the club and Leo breaks up with Verna.
Bernie's attempted assassination[]
As the two of them spend the night together, Verna reveals where Bernie is hiding which incidentally leads to Tom using it to get into Caspar's good graces. After bringing Bernie Bernbaum out to Miller's Crossing, Toms surprised that he's the one who has to do it, something he didn't expect. As the two begin walking into the woods, Bernie begs Tom to spare him, not wanting to die out there like a "dumb animal." With Bernie at his mercy, Tom points the gun at him as Bernie continues to prey to Tom. At the last minute, Tom decides to spare Bernie by missing the shot out of either pity or love for Bernie. He warns him to leave town and never come back, which Bernie says "bless you" and runs out of the woods. as Tom shoots another one.
Bernie blackmails Tom[]
However, this act of mercy comes back to bite Tom as Bernie decides to make a return and threaten Tom. Out of some petty sense of pride, he plans to threaten Tom into killing Caspar or else he'll make an appearance and expose his sparing of him. Bernie then says that Tom shouldn't smart him, because he wants to see Tom sweat. As he leaves, Tom attempts to get the drop on Bernie, only to get tripped by him and kicked in the face. After mocking Tom, Bernie leaves with a smug satisfaction. In order to cover up his escape, Bernie kills Mink and plants his body in the woods so that it's so unrecognizable, no one will suspect it. Realizing that he's vulnerable now, Tom decides to frame Caspar's right hand Eddie Dane for selling out Caspar's fix, due to the known relationship between Mink and Dane.
Bernie's death[]
Planning to put both Bernie and Caspar together, Tom manipulates Bernie by calling him and calling his bluff, saying to meet him at his apartment. Not long afterwards, Tom says that Mink is at his apartment, which leads to Casper accompanying him to the meet-up. Having gotten there early, Bernie shoots Caspar dead and Tom enters to see the bloody aftermath. Laughing morosely, Bernie is aware that Tom set this up to have him killed, only for Bernie to get the drop on him. Both of them discuss what to do next, with Tom suggesting framing Mink and Dane for the murder. While Bernie is onboard, Tom reveals that the Dane is dead and that it has to be Bernie. Realizing that he's been tricked, Bernie tries to get Tom to reconsider because they're both square and there's no angle. However, Tom has had it with Bernie's lies and prepares to kill him. Imploring him to look in his heart one last time, Tom merely replies "What heart?" and shoots him dead. Using the fixed bet that Bernie offered in the beginning, Tom decides to use it to pay back his debt to Lazarre.
In the end, Verna and Leo attend Bernie's funeral, with Verna telling Tom to "drop dead" before departing. As Leo attempts to convince Tom to work with him again, this falls on deaf ears as Tom says "Goodbye Leo." The film ends with Leo departing and Tom watching him leave.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Verna Bernbaum- Sister.
- Liam "Leo" O'Bannon- Future Brother in Law.
Enemies[]
- Tom Reagan- Former savior and patsy, eventual killer.
- Johnny Caspar- Former boss turned enemy, victim.
- Eddie "The Dane"- Enemy.
Others[]
"Mink" Larouie- Former lover and pawn, eventual victim
Quotes[]
| “ | Tom Reagan : So what's the deal, you get to live and Verna has to be Leo's girl? Bernie: I have nothing to do with that, she'll sleep with anyone Tom, you know that! She even tried to teach me a thing or two about bed antics once. Some crackpot idea about saving me from my friends. She's a sick twist all right. Tom Reagan: She speaks highly of you. Bernie: Yeah, well, you stick by your family. |
„ |
| ~ Bernie and Tom discussing Verna |
| “ | [Tom holds Bernie at gunpoint, and walks him out deeper into the forest] Bernie: Tommy, you can't do this! You don't bump guys! You're not like those animals back there. It's not right, Tom! They can't make us do this. It's the wrong situation, they can't make us different people than we are. We're not muscle, Tom. I... I... I... never killed anybody. I used a little information for a chisel, that's all. It's my nature, Tom! I... I... I... can't help it, somebody gives me an angle, I play it. I don't deserve to die for that. Do you think I do? [Tom doesn't answer, he just keeps walking] Bernie: I'm... I'm... I'm just a grifter, Tom. I'm... I'm... I'm... I'm... I'm an nobody! But I'll tell you what, I never crossed a friend, Tom. I never killed anybody, I never crossed a friend, nor you, I'll bet. We're not like those animals! This is not us! Th... th... this is some hop dream! It's a dream, Tommy! I'm praying to you! I can't die! I can't die... out here in the woods, like a dumb animal! In the woods, LIKE A DUMB ANIMAL! Like a dumb animal! I can't... I can't... I CAN'T DIE OUT HERE IN THE WOODS!... like a dumb animal. I can't... die! [Bernie falls to his knees, praying] Bernie: I'm praying to you! Look in your heart! I'm praying to you! Look in your heart! I'm praying to you! Look in your heart! I'm praying to you! Look in your heart... [Tom slowly aims his gun at Bernie] Bernie: I'm praying to you! Look in your heart. I'm praying to you... look in your heart... look in your heart! You can't kill me... look in your heart. |
„ |
| ~ Bernie preying to Tom to spare him from execution the first time. |
| “ | Bernie : Look in your heart! Look in your heart! Tom Reagan: What heart? |
„ |
| ~ Bernie's last words, before he meets his end at Tom's hand. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Bernie is referred to as a Schmatte. 'Schmatte' is a Yiddish word for an old rag and was also used colloquially as a label for things of poor quality or anything worthless. Caspar's use is derogatory, labeling Bernie worthless both as a man and as a Jew.
- John Turturro based his performance on the film's cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld.
- This was the Coen Brothers' first collaboration with Steve Buscemi and John Turturro.
- 'Twist' is a slang term for a girl or woman, often used derogatorily. Bernie refers to Verna in such a matter throughout the film.
- Bernie is bisexual, having been a lover of "Mink" Larouie and possibly having had intercourse with his sister Verna.