Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Review
by Ben Hoffman (bhoffman AT ix DOT netcom DOT com)November 24th, 1997
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL
Do not let the title fool you. It could lead you to believe this was going to be one of the surreal films with corpses rising out of graves. Not at all . . . or at least only occasionally spooky. Instead this is a tensely entertaining film about a murder and a trial. The acting by everyone is absolutely superb. Good story and great acting; what else could one ask for?
Based quite loosely on John Berendt's recounting of a murder in Savannah, it will hold you in its grip from beginning to end. John Kelso (John Cusack) is a journalist who is sent by TOWN AND COUNTRY magazine to cover a Christmas party given at the beautiful Savannah home of wealthy, famous Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) who is a collector, an antique dealer, a restorer of 18th and 19th Century homes.
What should have been a routine assignment for Kelso who would just have to take notes on the lavishness of the party, record who in Georgia society attended, and other such trivia finds himself in a room with Williams discussing the party. Into this room bursts Billy Hanson (Jude Law), an obvious hustler who shouts at Williams, knocks over an expensive antique grandfather clock and hurls threats before he leaves in a state of drunkenness or excessive drugs. All this is witnessed by the journalist to whom it is obvious that Billy lives with Williams as his lover.
When, a short while later, Williams shoots and kills Billy, (in self-defense, he claims) the movie turns dark. Williams is arrested but because he is a prestigious member of Savannah society he expects to be released at once on his own recognizance. That does not happen that quickly because the investigators have lots of questions about Williams' version of what happened.
In a nice twist of irony, the film concludes exactly right.
Just about everyone in the cast is superb, from Cusack as the young journalist, to Spacey, haughty, dignified, self-assured. An exceptionally able performance is given by Jack Thompson who plays Sonny Seiler, Williams' defense attorney.
Special mention must be made of the transvestite known as The Lady Chablis who is played by Chablis Deveau (a transvestite in real life) who provides both humor and pathos to the film, dominating many of the scenes. Add to the cast, Minerva, (Irma P. Hall) like a one-woman Greek oracle who keeps popping up every now and then with some pithy remark. It was she who stole the film A FAMILY THING with her performance in 1996. Lastly, there is the entirely unnecessary "love interest" played by Alison Eastwood who just happens to be Clint Eastwood's daughter.
Do not expect the film to be faithful to the book. See it on its own merits which are plentiful.
Directed by Clint Eastwood.
3.5 bytes
4 Bytes = Superb
3 Bytes = Too good to miss
2 Bytes = Average
1 Byte = Save your money
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
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