Does anybody know if the character Tom Reagan in the Coen brother's movie "Miller's Crossing" is a tribute to Tom Hagen?

Tom Reagan played by Gabriel Byrne is also an advisor to a crime boss, albeit an Irish one not an Italian, during the prohibition era.

I might be reading too much into the coincidence, but it looks like a tip of the hat to the greatest movie of it's genre.

Maybe I should have posted in the Godfather section.

Mods can you please move?

Ive never seen the movie, but I do find it a little odd that they are bost advisors to a crime boss with names such as Hagen and Reagen. Although, I am king of reading way too much into things so who knows it could just be a side affect from this Mafia addiction I have that makes me think of the two related.

Interesting idea, Frankie, but I don't think so. Tom Hagan was loyal and humble to the nth degree. Tom Reagan wasn't humble in the least, nor was his loyalty complete. And Hagen stayed away from violence, whereas Reagan got right into it.
Best thing about "Miller's Crossin": Jon Polito.

Have you seen "The Man Who Wasn't There" yet? Another Coen Bros. film with their usual ensemble, including Polito, Billy Bob Thornton, and Frances McDormand. Also, James Gandolfini.

I've been pushing that one here since I saw it about a year or so ago. Polito is excellent.

I'll have to check it out.
Coen Bros. have a great ensemble company, but they too often underuse people. Polito never again got a role as juicy as he had in "Miller's Crossing." And Steve Buscemi was woefully underused in "Barton Fink" and "The Big Lebowsky."

Although the personal atributes of Hagen and Reagan are very different, I was just wondering if the similarity of name meant that the Coen brothers were giving a cheeky 'tip of the hat' to the Godfather.

I hoped somebody might have some inside info on the workings of the Coen brothers!

I agree that it's a shame that Steve Buscemi was so underused in Lebowsky. I plan to see "Barton Fink" soon.

"Barton Fink" was excellent (though Buscemi was underused there as well).
On plawrence's recommendation, I watched "The Man Who Wasn't There." Very good! You should add it to your list, Frankie. Many thanks for the recommendation, plawrence!

I'm always seeing little coincidences like this. Like last night on a rerun of Law and Order, this bad guy (don't you love my descriptive "bad guy" term? ha ha) had a lawyer giving him advice and his name was....Mr. Hagen! My husband didn't exactly share in my enthusiasm.