Director: Clint Eastwood
Year: 1997 Country: U.S. Gender: Thriller / Drama Score: 08/10
Cast: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, Jude Law, Irma P. Hall, Lady Chablis, Alison Eastwood, Paul Hipp, Jack Thompson, Kim Hunter, Geoffrey Lewis
John Kelso (John Cusack) is a journalist and writer on behalf of a magazine will cover a report on a Christmas party organized by a millionaire named Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey), in a luxurious house filled with antique collections and in the southern town of Savannah. John knows many people in the region, most of them very eccentric, and soon enters into contact with Jim, who kindly received him and showed him all his famous acquisitions. What looks like a quiet evening takes an unexpected turn with the appearance of Billy (Jude Law), a boy who worked in the house, which is also the lover of Jim, tonight is murdered. Since then, begins a legal process to yield the innocence or guilt of Williams, in which Kelso takes to investigate what happened and know the people and the curious characters of the place, deciding to write a book about the case. "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is one of the rare, if not most, of the entire filmography of the director. Adapted from a cult novel by John Berendt, the southern city of ancient lineage, Clint Eastwood serves to dissect a society steeped in tradition and the legacy of the slave, becomes the excuse to tell a story of love and passion, crime and revenge, Kelson becomes our guide, in the eyes of the viewer, caught, go marching a series of eccentric characters.
In "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" the student of Donald Siegel and Sergio Leone notice we do not yet have a possible withdrawal as an actor. Want to roll freely and gathers a team of players under his command the loyalty of it will be useful in their interpretations. It takes the magical setting of a village where its friendly people wander, and their ghosts, parks and alleys that boil over with flowers, dogs invisible and cemeteries that you would like a stroll around the romantic charm. This is the most unusual and complex film I've seen the master Eastwood, perhaps because it is based on a succulent "best seller", where the plot is composed of multiple stories that intersect, but the plot revolves around an eccentric millionaire of ambiguous sexuality, which features new rich, is a host of the Great Gatsby style, a collector of antiques and works of art. A young journalist from the North arrives engaged by him for the frivolous work (well paid) to write just 500 words on one of his parties. The newcomer is captivated by the social universe that is, whom a friend described as: "This is like 'Gone With the Wind', but surreal version." It is this surreal version that starts to seep into the different shades of the film, which has characteristics of the thriller, which also includes a typical trial with arguments for and against, podiums and American flags.
Although at times the film becomes an open atmosphere of comedy (like all the scenes where he works Lady Chablis, a transvestite fun and sensual black). As if this were not too much, they introduce elements own esoteric mystery film, such as rites and beliefs of the subculture of voodoo, from a fat black witch as are the southern lullabies. Many strands and sub-genres are the ones stretching and dilating beyond the ideal in such an ambitious plot, which would become unmanageable for not having a solid job behind Eastwood. From all this, and above all, prevails ironic about this social microcosm marked by double standards: the ambiguity involves not only sexuality but to justice. Many themes are touched on in this movie. The main one is a murder trial with gay dyes that can cause a decision based more on prejudice than on facts, but at the same time, the fear that the jury may have to be labeled a homophobe can alter the verdict to the contrary. How to find the sentence fair? The journalist tries to help Williams to prove his innocence to show great loyalty and friendship, as the bourgeoisie's social circle as Williams has turned his back. The search for evidence to prove the innocence of the millionaire will take you to find other strange characters.
John Cusack is very well its role of journalist John Kelson, I think casting is a success, for his face-boy with mischievous eyes get easily get the audience in his pocket and it identify with his character. Kevin Spacey is also notable as the rich Jim Williams, who is the patron of the people, cultured and refined. Something interesting in the film is that there is no exclusive role, but many side with his moment of glory. From the brief appearances by Jude Law. As I said before that takes the cake is Lady Chablis in his hilarious role. Using the camera in a masterful way with a superb staging, Clint Eastwood managed to create a film that maintains a fast pace at all times expectant audience, thanks mainly to a good script and the appearance of quirky characters who bring a touch of confusion, dispersing the stress care investigation and trial. I think it's a movie-bus, where there are too many to count and moving from a murder trial, in a ballroom at the darkness of a cemetery, suspense thriller to entanglements funny comedy. But always with the support of the office to film, along with a memorable soundtrack to the rhythm of jazz and blues. Everything merges in this film: The peculiarity of the city, the sexuality of the victim and the accused, the hypocrisy of the friends of Williams and especially the ambiguity of the case.
from the words and incantations of the black witch becomes the strange title: in the middle of the night and when something is not clear the dead require half an hour for a look from the good and half evil. Additionally, this film does not exclude coral thread a little history with twists and turns involving the handsome journalist and the beautiful daughter of the director (Alison Eastwood). It's memorable dance sequence contrasts sensualísimo society where male with the formalism and conventions, triumphant tone of comedy and laughter in social criticism. They are also delicious few lines of dialogue, like the little scene at the florist or greenhouse "? between the young journalist and the florist, which compares the characteristics of love with flowers. Not to mention some phrases put into the mouth of the witch, on the dead come to know all human truths. It is a pity that this film happened so unnoticed when it was released. This is a great and remarkable film, not in vain, is the great Clint Eastwood is a film director who over the years has demonstrated his enormous talent in management and is someone whom one can have sufficient confidence that will a high quality product. In this film it shows the direction of Eastwood, is more restrained, contained, as usual, and recreated in the urban environment, full of buildings that are echoes of history, the origins of Savannah, and the actors, always one of the strengths of Eastwood.
Clint Eastwood in this film changed his registration. I set aside his tough guy role and efforts in making thoughtful film, funny, colorful. This can be seen in this film very interesting, an unusual detail, with a side that imbue the viewer. I think we have a huge Clint Eastwood. Only this respected director could happen to make a movie like this with such great characters, in a southern great that, for obvious reasons, they go with the mouth open a New Yorker. Eastwood explain what he wants, among other things, is that the United States many countries in one. That what is not monolithic, nor is the sexuality of people. The only thing that is monolithic is hypocrisy. "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is the most misunderstood film of Clint Eastwood. The public did not understand the proposal, hoping probably another helping of action and adventure. Without doubt, this is a whim of the director, a beautiful example of transgressive and creative freedom to show their hidden desires to criticism as an author, beyond the masterful craftsmanship of his work on gender. In short, is a film of trials with a touch of very good romantic comedy, comedy to dry, supernatural comedy, some thrillers, coming-out ball for young women of color is awful. Highly recommended film requires the viewer, probably more than others, get well within the frame of the film. To enjoy it.
"A great feast of film genres"
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