Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil

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.


"Jewel of the South"....Has Gem of a Story...   December 10, 2002
L. Shirley (fountain valley, ca United States)
36 out of 38 found this review helpful

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


A timeless piece of eccentric south   November 6, 1999
Beverly Mecum (North Carolina)
28 out of 32 found this review helpful

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.


yThis place is like Gone With the Wind on mescaliney   January 31, 2003
E. Callaway (Walker MI, USA)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful

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


Good Book+Good Actors+Good Director= Bad Movie   March 19, 2004
James Sadler (Garland, TX United States)
12 out of 20 found this review helpful

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" was a book that was almost hypnotic in it's appeal. John Berendt wisely focused on the people, more so than the events, to craft an engrossing, magical tale.

Somehow, the film lost all the charm of the book. For starters, the trial is condensed into a single trial, whereas in reality it was stretched out over several trials and years. The murder, while it was discussed throughout the book, was also not the focus of the book. In the film it becomes the focal point and the movie just seems to turn into a bad murder mystery (without too much mystery) as a result.

A primarily problem: the book's charm was derived largely from the disparate lives presented. The movie only touches upon most of the different characters in a cursory manner and none of the magic and air of mystery about Savannah is translated to the screen.

With all the talent tied to this project, it should have been a blockbuster. Instead, it's a mediocre film viewing experience, at best.