Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers (WGA):

John Berendt (book)
John Lee Hancock (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Welcome to Savannah, Georgia. A City Of Hot Nights And Cold Blooded Murder.

Plot:

A visiting city reporter's assignment suddenly revolves around the murder trial of a local millionaire, whom he befriends.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Trial | Reporter | Murder Trial | Christmas

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	John Kelso
Kevin Spacey	...	Jim Williams
Jack Thompson	...	Sonny Seiler
Irma P. Hall	...	Minerva
Jude Law	...	Billy Hanson
Alison Eastwood	...	Mandy Nicholls
Paul Hipp	...	Joe Odom
Lady Chablis	...	Chablis Deveau (as The Lady Chablis)
Dorothy Loudon	...	Serena Dawes
Anne Haney	...	Margaret Williams
Kim Hunter	...	Betty Harty
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Luther Driggers
Richard Herd	...	Henry Skerridge
Leon Rippy	...	Detective Boone
Bob Gunton	...	Finley Largent

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief violence.

Runtime:

155 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG (original rating) (cut) | Argentina:13 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Finland:K-15 (TV rating) | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Mexico:C | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Churchill's - 9 West Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia, USA

Company:

Malpaso Productions

Trivia:

The English bulldog Uga in the film is actually Uga 5 rather than Uga 4 (former mascot of the University of Georgia). Uga 4, who was the bulldog in the book, died shortly before filming, so his son, Uga 5, took his place. Uga is owned by Sonny Seiler who appears in the film and was the real life attorney for Jim Williams.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chablis is at the cotillion she asks a woman at the table to watch her purse. After dancing, getting a drink, and leaving, she never retrieves her purse.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Minerva: Quit eye balling me, Flavius. I knew you when you was a two bit hustler on Bull Street.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Damn Good Dog (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Wanna Be Around

Another lesson in movie making by Clint

A stylish and haunting film-noir thriller, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is another lesson in peerless film-making by Clint Eastwood. John Cusack makes one of his most positive performances and skips the usual charming giddiness he is famed for. The storyline never ceases to surprise you and neither do the characters. Spacey's Jim Williams is one of the most fascinating villains ever and Spacey again delivers a perfect performance. More solid work comes from Allison Eastwood, Jude Law and Lady Chablis, the humorous treat of the film.

The most mystic and chilling scene is in the middle of the film, when Williams and Kelso visit Minerva, the scene which gives the movie its name. The climax is also incredibly well written and directed, one of the most suspenseful ever. A bravura work from a man who has long since learned how to make perfect film noirs. A highly enjoyable and recommendable movie.10/10