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| Director: Clint Eastwood
Actors: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, Jack Thompson, Irma P. Hall, Jude Law
Studio: Warner Home Video
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $14.97 (100%)
New (9) Used (51) Collectible (3) from $0.01
Rating:  163 reviews
Sales Rank: 4767
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 155 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0790734680
UPC: 085391477631
EAN: 9780790734682
ASIN: 0790734680
Theatrical Release Date: November 21, 1997
Release Date: October 13, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: VHS. Ex-Video Rental with Original Artwork/Coverbox. Some coverboxes may be cut and inserted in a clear plastic case. Guaranteed to play.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 163
 Strange, but I loved it! December 31, 2001
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
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...
 Strange Story, Great Acting. August 11, 2004
tvtv3 (Sorento, IL United States)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I watched MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL for the first time about five years ago. At the time, I found it to be a very strange and bizarre movie, but one that was also fascinating. It captured my imagination. After finally being able to read the book that the film is based upon, I re-watched the movie again. After having read the book, my impressions of the film didn't change much. I was a little bit disappointed that some of the best characters from the book were compressed or totally deleted, but other than that I felt that the movie stayed close to the spirit of the book.
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL examines a famous murder trial that took place in Savannah, Georgia. The movie revolves around the murder trial, but really isn't about murder at all. Instead, the trial serves as a backdrop for the character study that the film really is. The movie also illustrates a community of people living together in a city that operates more as a family rather than a socialized living environment.
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL was directed by Clint Eastwood and in my opinion, it is one of the best films he has ever directed (so much better and more interesting than the ballyhooed MYSTIC RIVER). The movie is filled with vivid passing images that give the movie it's unusual tone which provides a bizarre pulse throughout. In addition to the excellent directing is some great acting. Kevin Spacey and John Cusack are perfectly cast for their roles as are many of the supporting performers. The movie is worth watching for their performances alone.
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL is not a film that everyone will enjoy watching. It's kind of a quirky picture that makes people think. If you want a lot of action or even suspense, this probably isn't a movie you will want to watch. On the other hand, it you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary that might cause you to think, this garden might be a good place to start.
Very good film, even better DVD April 15, 2001
paulyboy (New York, NY United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
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!
Watch the movie, then read the original (true) story May 22, 2000
Ben Elliss (Reading, UK)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
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!
 Dark at "Midnight" May 22, 2004
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
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.
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