midnight
in the garden of good and evil
Clint
Eastwood directs this adaptation of John Berendt’s book, ostensibly
a true story about a young journalists experiences in a small southern
town. John Cusack plays John Kelso, the journalist, who is covering
the story of a grand Christmas party, hosted by local luminary and philanthropist,
Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey). During the party, however, Williams
shoots dead his male handyman/lover, and Kelso becomes embroiled in
the ensuing court case that dominates the small and quirky town of Savannah.
If you’re looking for excitement,
this isn’t the film for you. Thoughtful, and sometimes very funny,
it is a sharp insight into small town mentality, and the whole concept
of “big fish getting away with it”. At two and a half hours, though,
it takes it’s time getting there, and to be honest, by the end, I didn’t
much care. The storyline is simple enough, with few twists or
surprises, and the ending probably slightly predictable. Or so
I thought. There is not a great deal to fault; Eastwood’s direction
is firm, and evident, and the general premise is not wholly off-putting.
The acting is, on the whole, good- Cusack breezes through without really
stretching himself, while Spacey is splendid, though you suspect he
could perform the role with his eyes shut. The supporting cast
are not always evident, and drift in and out, but on the whole add to
what action there is well enough.
The actual cinematography is
what could best be described as “nice”- good settings, good use of integrated
shots, but nothing memorable. And that is probably how this film
could be remembered, as it were- as nothing memorable. Perhaps
I expected too much, but I was disappointed, and the length of the picture
merely drew my disappointment out. Talented acting, but nothing
to get their teeth into. DJY
STORYLINE:
55%
ACTING: 60%
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 60%
SPECIAL EFFECTS: N/A
OVERALL:
60%
Best
Quote: The Lady Chablis:
It's like my mother always said:
"Two
tears in a bucket, motherfuck it."
Kelso: Hmm.
I'll have to remember that one.
Main
Cast List
John Cusack - John Kelso
Kevin Spacey - Jim Williams
Jack Thompson - Sonny Seiler
Irma P Hall - Minerva
Jude Law - Billy Carl Hanson
Alison Eastwood - Mandy Nichols
Paul Hipp - Joe Odom
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