Customer Reviews

Midnight in Garden of Good & Evil

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This review refers to the Special Edition DVD(WB)......

New York free-lance jouranlist John Kelso(John Cusak) is in Savannah to cover an the elite annual Christmas party thrown by the nouveau-riche John Williams(Kevin Spacey).John is in awe of the splendor,the charms,the opulence, and history of his surroundings. The party takes place in the Mercer House, built by the grandfather of Johnny Mercer.John meets some very colorful characters at the party. They all seem to be living in another world, one that is decadent and oblivious to the rest of the world. John is about to wrap his little essay for "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine, but when the evening ends with a mysterius murder, he stays on and become embroiled in the odd trial that follows.

John decides to do a little investigating on his own, as he plans to write a book about the whole sordid affair. Jim Williams is the one on trial for the murder of a belligerent employee(Jude Law). Was he merely an employee though? What was the relationship of these two? During his investigating John encounters an eccentric array of characters, who all become important in some way to the trial. You'll meet Minerva, the voo-doo lady,who uses charms and spells to help Jim, "The Lady Chablis", a transexual who brings her own special charms to the story, and some of the jury members are pretty out there as well.John becomes one with this community as he must do whatever it takes to get this story. So meet him at the cemetary....at Midnight..in the Garden of Good and Evil!

Clint Eastwood directs this intriguing story that was based on John Brendt's book of the same name.(Which was based on actual events). Eastwood mixes the mysteriousness of these events, with the wonderful surroundings of Savannah, and adds the music of Johnny Mercer to bring us a rare gem. A film that will have you totally involved with all the characters. The cast also includes, Allison Eastwood, Geoffrey Lewis and Jack Thompson. "The Lady Chablis" plays "The Lady Chablis"! And..Uga V the Georgia bulldog actually plays his father Uga IV and does a darn good job!The soundtrack is fabulous, mostly Mercer songs, and the cinematogrpahy is beautiful.Eastwood once again displays his behind the camera talents.

The DVD is a great transfer. The picture is crystal clear and colors outstanding even in the nighttime scenes. The surround sound in the Dolby Digital 5.1 is very good. It is presented in widescreen, which enhances all the wonderful scenery of Savannah. Special Features include interviews, production notes,and a theatrical trailer. It may be viewed in English or French and also has subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

A terrific mystery, wonderful characters, well directed and a great DVD...enjoy...Laurie

Adapting a book to the screen is always a risk, and adapting a successful book particularly so, especially if it is a nonfiction book and the story has already made news (or been the subject of gossip, which in this instance doesn't seem to make much difference) long before the book was ever written. There will always be those who claim that you didn't do the book justice, or that you didn't do the real events justice, or both. But let's face it, folks, the vast majority of us weren't witnesses to Jim Williams's record four trials, nor did we attend any of his famous Christmas parties, nor did or do we know Mr. Williams or any of the other inhabitants of Savannah featured so prominently here (even if Jerry Spence - not the attorney, the hairdresser appearing as himself in the movie - insists that ever since the publication of John Behrendt's book people have been asking him to sign their copy). All that most of us did was read the book ... yes, so did I, and I enjoyed it immensely. And maybe some have taken a trip to Savannah and gone on one of those "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" bus tours. (No, haven't done that myself yet. Savannah's on my list, though.)

Granted, condensing four trials into one, adding a fictional reporter (John Kelso alias John Cusack) as a stand-in for Mr. Behrendt whose book is a first-person account, and making Mandy Nichols (director Clint Eastwood's daughter Alison) the reporter's love interest, meant altering the facts as related in the book. But let's not forget that the latter covers a period of eight-plus years and is jam-packed with a shooting, four trials, a host of social events and a cast of more memorable characters than many a novel; all of which is near impossible to transform into a movie if you neither want to skip over half the important details and move the action at breakneck speed, nor turn the project into a ten-part TV series. These changes were probably necessary byproducts of the screenwriting process. But the core elements of the story have been maintained, and apart from the relationship between Mandy and John Kelso/John Behrendt, the cast of main characters strikes me as pretty faithful to the book.

Most importantly, the person at the center of the story: antiques dealer, art lover, restorer of historic mansions and sun of Savannah's genteel society, Jim Williams, is exactly the kind of man you imagine after having read the book - portrayed by Kevin Spacey with all the charm, grace and slightly condescending noblesse you would expect from a textbook Southern gentleman, with that "coastal accent ... soft and slurring, liquid of vowels, kind to consonants" as John Behrendt writes, quoting "Gone With the Wind;" making you forget that neither Mr. Williams actually came from "old money," nor Kevin Spacey grew up south of the Mason-Dixon line. And Savannah, of course, is Savannah ... city of grand old mansions surrounding its 21 squares, cotillon balls (including a black one), a Married Women's (Card) Club, lush vegetation, shady trees, Spanish moss and sultry heat radiating from the pages of John Behrendt's book as much as it does from the movie screen in director Clint Eastwood's interpretation. The movie was shot on location, including and in particular in and around Williams's Mercer House, on Monterey Square and in Bonaventure and Beaufort Cemeteries; giving it that feeling of authenticity which is virtually impossible to replicate in a studio. In addition, almost all of the Savannah residents vital to the story readily participated in screen tests; with the glamorous Lady Chablis (in all her eccentricity more lady than many a born one, Southern or otherwise) emerging in a starring role and Williams's attorney Sonny Seiler portraying the trial judge. Even bulldog Uga, the famed mascot of the University of Georgia's football team, traditionally provided by the Seiler family and as important a member of Savannah society as all its human residents and as Patrick, the long-deceased dog still symbolically being walked by its former caregiver, was not left out ... with the minor imperfection that because Uga IV, the star of the book and the real events it describes had already followed his ancestors Uga I - III to dog heaven when the movie was shot, he had to be portrayed by his son, Uga V. And more authenticity is added by the use of several songs written by Johnny Mercer, Savannah's famous son and great-grandson of the general who built the mansion restored and inhabited by Jim Williams.

Clint Eastwood's direction evokes an only marginally modernized version of the "old South" most of which could have come straight out of a book by Faulkner or Tennessee Williams; with an eye for the atmosphere and intricacies of the place and its people that comes as a surprise only to those who merely know the one-term mayor of Carmel, CA as Dirty Harry or the Man With No Name, not as the director of "The Bridges of Madison County," like this movie a book adaptation (although set in quite a different environment). And in this approach, he proves as faithful to John Behrendt's book as in the movie's depiction of Jim Williams and his fellow Savannahians: What on the surface is the chronicle of the trial of a prominent and rather colorful member of society for the death of a wayward, hot-tempered street hustler who happened to be his sometime lover (and that of most of Savannah's society, both male and female), is truly a complex, beautifully shot portrayal of the city itself and its people; like in the book, the events as such are merely a vehicle to put into pictures what Eastwood was interested in most. Yet, the movie should first and foremost be taken at face value; it is more than just another book adaptation and in its dignified beauty, easily stands on its own two feet.

Also recommended:
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Capitol Collectors Series
The Bridges of Madison County (Deluxe Widescreen Edition)

I have lived in the south all my life. Watching this movie reminded me of how beautiful and special this place is. Clint Eastwood's interpretation of John Berendt's piece of literary art was splendid in its own right. It reminded me of how rich our heritage is. The music, the superb casting (no one can deny the talent of the great Kevin Spacey) and the seemingly endless parade of characters kept me enthralled from the beginning. It's not often a film can pull at my heartstrings, teach me something about tolerance and history, reveal such beauty and amuse me at the same time. The movie so moved me that I read the book. Although somewhat different, each form was intriguing. I have just returned from Savannah. I was constantly reminded of the story of Jim Williams as I walked the squares and felt the history therein. This filmed turned attention once again to a wonderful magical place, the South.

The echoes of Southern Gothic don't come much more gothic than "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," Clint Eastwood's flawed adaptation of the bestselling true crime book. While the movie only dips briefly into the genteel decadence of the upper-crust South, and the general air of Savannah, it does have its fun moments and good acting.

John Kelso (John Cusack) has come to Georgia to cover the famous Christmas party of the wealthy James Williams (Kevin Spacey). As well as Williams, Kelso ends up befriending a bevy of eccentrics, including some happy-go-lucky partygoers and the Lady Chablis (played by... the Lady Chablis), a drag queen with a mischievous sense of humor.

But things go wrong after the party. Williams' employee/boyfriend Billy Carl Hanson (Jude Law) is found dead after a fight with Williams -- and Williams seems like the most likely suspect. As a not-so-pleasant trial begins, Kelso sets out to unravel the mystery of what really went on that night, and what the truth behind Hanson's death is.

The biggest flaw of "Midnight" is that it is way too short for the material it stems from -- several years and multiple trials are compressed into a matter of weeks, and many of the endearingly freaky people of Savannah are given short shrift. Only the Lady Chablis gets enough time -- the guy with the flies and poison, for example, is touched on but never dealt with.

But as far as execution goes, much of "Midnight" is quite charming -- warm, sleepy and a little overgrown, much like the vision of Savannah it shows. Even a midnight voodoo session doesn't break the mood. And Eastwood manages to give us a charming view of the eccentricities of "Gone With the Wind on mescaline." (Exhibit A: The guy walking an invisible, deceased dog)

Both Cusack and Spacey do an excellent job bringing their characters to life: Cusack always seems a little out of the current, a realistic outsider, while Spacey exudes grace, charm and a sort of apologetic pride. Jude Law, for the brief time we see him, does a good job as the redneck hellraiser. And who can forget the Lady Chablis? Chablis is pretty clearly having a wonderful time (playing herself, no less). The one cast flaw is Alison Eastwood, who doesn't seem to bother acting.

While "Midnight of Good and Evil" fails to live up to its promise, it is a charming and funny look at the deep South. Well-acted but patchily adapted, this is an amusing movie if you don't expect it to stick too closely to the book.

This is very strange to me but...
The book on which this film is based is my all time favorite...The movie pales in comparison but I still love it!
The film is certainly more fiction than fact...There were 4 trials...the movie lumps them together in one, the Cusack character is pure fiction and (without giving away the ending)this is not how one of the main characters ended in real life but Savannah is as stunning on film as it is in life! As for Kevin Spacey, well, he is brilliant as usual and Jack Thompson and Dorothy Loudon head a supporting cast that also included Jude Law that is just great. Now for the Lady Chablis. As a gay man I have always found drag and female impersonators just too much too take but THE LADY is just great playing of all people, HERSELF! Due to the lengthy time frame of the actual events and a host of eccentric real life people I think the book should have been made into a mini series but certainly on a cable channel so nothing would have to be edited...

There were two reasons why I picked up this film: 1.) Kevin Spacey and 2.) it takes place in Savannah, GA, which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I knew very little about the story; I knew that it had something to do with a murder, and that no one could figure out if the rich man (Spacey) had killed him or not. I found out later that it was in fact a true story, which made it even more intriguing. However, I feel that the heart of this movie lies not in the murder mystery itself, but in the eccentric characters who occupy the city of Savannah. John Cusack as an outsider becomes a representation of the audience, someone who stumbles along and slowly comes to appreciate the many different people of the city. The audience is taken on a whirlwind tour of some of the most interesting and odd people to exist in the South. I especially loved the Lady Chablis; that character is too melodramatic and amusing for words. In addition to the interesting characters, there is the great music of Savannah's Johnny Mercer, which really adds to the authenticity of the piece. As a director, Clint Eastwood has a gift for capturing the heart and spirit of the city on film. However, he still needs to learn a thing or two about storytelling. For one thing, the movie is way too long; they try to fit too much into the story, making it at times jumbled and incoherent. I found myself losing interest a couple of times, especially when Spacey's character was brought to trial. That trial dragged on forever! The ending didn't make any sense, either. Despite these discrepancies, I have viewed the film a number of times, and I have concluded that you either have to be a huge Kevin Spacey fan, or else you really have to like the scenery and music to sit through it more than once.

Clint Eastwood has made a beautiful-looking film, which is fortunate since Savannah is one of the most beautiful places in the US. And while the plotting of the story isn't quite bulletproof, the characters are so fascinating that you'll want to follow them anywhere. Lady Chablis is a casting coup, and I can't imagine the movie existing without her. She gives the movie a depth that is necessary to accompany the beautiful scenery.

John Cusack is great as usual, Kevin Spacey has a nasty good time (think Tommy Lee Jones in JFK), and Broadway veteran Dorothy Loudon (Annie, Ballroom) make a welcome appearance as Serena Dawes.

As for the DVD extras, they make this package a must-buy. The documentaries and biographies about the real-life people and situations that inspired the story, as well as the making of the movie, are great viewing. They also make the experience of watching the movie even more enjoyable.

Watch the film, then watch the extras. Then read the book. And then, buy an airplane ticket to Savannah and make your own adventure. You won't be sorry!

A good film, though not as good as John Berendt's non-fiction novel on which it's based. 'Midnight' contains very little of director Clint Eastwood's trademark style, coming across as a little rambling in some places. Kevin Spacey is, as ever, very good - his role as the affected socialite Jim Williams shows a new side to his acting. By contrast, the usually good John Cusack doesn't really get a chance to shine in his role as the hero-narrator. But the lazy, eerie atmosphere of Savannah is well constructed, and a number of the supporting actors (particularly The Lady Chablis playing himself/herself) are very good. I totally didn't recognise Jude Law as the trashy hustler victim the first time I watched this video!

Midnight is a great movie. I was pleasantly surprised by this movie as I am rarely a fan of actor-gone-director films. Clint Eastwood is pretty good though. Kevin Spacey and John Cusack are always at the top of their game, as they are in this picture as well. Clint Eastwood's daughter is even in this. She too, is very good.

Spacey's character, James Williams, is charged with the murder of his gay lover. Cusack's character, John Kelso is a New York author who is down in Savannah Georgia to cover Mr. Williams' Christmas party, who then decided to stay and write a book about the story that revolves around the trial.

The characters in this movie are great. The Lady Chablis, a drag queen and performer, is one of the funniest and vivid characters I have ever seen on film. She is wonderful and an instrumental part of the film. Sunny, Mr. Williams' lawyer is great too. He is animated and charming.

This film has a great deal of that charm that is aforementioned. There is a wonderful feel to it. It is fun to watch as I have seen it probably about fifteen times now. I recommend it to anybody, especially if they like Spacey or Cusack. . .

epc

This is one of the best films I have seen this year. I thought there were many outstanding performances: the narrator (the New York writer who comes south to write an article on Savannah ), Jim Williams,the genteel antiques dealer; his lawyer,who finally achieves an acquittal for his long-term client; Billy,Jim's young drug-taking homosexual employee who is also his lover, Joe Odom the piano player and his girlfriend Mandy, and particularly Minerva the voodoo priestess and Lady Chablis all really impressed me with their performances. The story is an interesting one set in a slow Southern Gothic pace, and there is in addition the wonderful Johnny Mercer song "Skylark" which is played at the beginning and at the end. I think the character of Savannah is brought out in the film in many ways: the walks in the park, the Mercer house, the identical scenes at beginning and end in which Minerva feeds a squirrel sitting on a park bench as the plane arrives overhead. Not to mention that voodoo is part of Savannah's ambience. Plus there are wonderful humorous interludes: the man walking the invisible dog, the man who carries flies on pieces of string and threatens to empty a bottle of toxic poison into the city's water supply; the ladies bridge society. The best individual performance is probably by Kevin Spacey followed closely by Minerva, Lady Chablis, Williams' lawyer, and the narrator and his girlfriend Mandy. In the end the narrator wins the girl, after Minerva tells him, "Don't focus so much on the dead that you forget the living."