Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Starring: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey
Director: Clint Eastwood
Genre: Drama
Year: 1997
Rating: 3 / 5

I love Clint Eastwood, but, unfortunately, his role in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is solely behind the camera. I do not even know if his imposing presence in front of the camera would have been able to cure what ails this movie. The cast is first-rate, though Kevin Spacey is oddly absent for a significant portion of the film. The plot seems to suggest something profound, but the film's conclusion is anything but shocking, and some of the most integral themes seem somewhat dated. At the end of this piece, I found myself more concerned with what this film could have been than with what it actually is.

John Kelso (John Cusack) is a freelance writer sent by the magazine Town & Country to cover the annual Christmas party being held by Savannah socialite Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey). John is anything but successful, having penned one book in his entire career, but his presence has specifically been requested by Mr. Williams. It seems that the magazine in question has sought to cover this well-to-do Christmas party for years, and Mr. Williams has finally relented, provided that John Kelso cover the event. Armed with this info, John settles into the Savannah lifestyle, one so unlike his own New York environs that he brings a cassette of neighborhood sounds (taxis, car horns, profanities, etc.) to remind him of home.

Shortly after one of Jim Williams' famous parties, police arrive at his majestic home. Billy Carl Hanson (Jude Law), employed by Mr. Williams, is found dead in the latter man's study, the victim of a gunshot wound. Jim Williams claims self-defense, saying that Billy Carl was attempting to kill him. The case heads to trial, and this respected Savannah citizen soon finds himself depending on the goodwill of his neighbors to set him free. Secrets begin to reveal themselves, however, and Jim's "friends," the ones who would do anything to gain admittance to his parties, begin deserting him. Will anyone stand by him during his most desperate hour, or is he merely on a course to get his just desserts?

Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects) is the true star of this film, even if John Cusack receives top billing and the majority of the screen time. He plays the suave, Southern gentleman with the perfect amount of class and sophistication, speaking on behalf of the entire Southern way of life. Jack Thompson is the real surprise of the film, starring as Jim Williams' deceptively slick attorney, Sonny Seiler. What starts as a drama evolves into a murder mystery, then takes on a more spiritual, metaphorical tint, before returning to the murder mystery. At the film's conclusion, it gets very mystical, with some of the film's most powerful - though dated - statements coming out in a climactic courtroom scene. Add a little consistency to the mix, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil might have been a real winner.

Cast:

John Cusack..........	John Kelso
Kevin Spacey..........	Jim Williams
Jack Thompson..........	Sonny Seiler
Jude Law..........	Billy Hanson

Certification: Rated R for language.
Running Time: 155 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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