Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Special Edition)

 

 

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In March we visited Savannah Georgia for the first time. Spring had just arrived and there were blossoms, live oaks, and Spanish moss throughout the old city. We did a guided tour and one of the places of interest was the house where Jim Williams had lived when one of the most dramatic shootings of recent history occurred. Next door is the mansion that his defence lawyer now owns. We were told that this mansion was the site for the book and movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." The movie captures a sense of Georgia in the 70's and 80's and will make viewers curious about the characters and the city.

It is within the exclusive historical and southern city of Savannah Georgia, that Jim Williams, a wealthy respected citizen holds his parties for the high society to which he belongs. Jim lives a privileged life and knows his friends compete to be included on his guest list. Jim chose John Kelso, a writer for Town and Country magazine to review his Christmas party, *the* spectacular social event of the season. Jim's home is a mansion dating back to the Civil War, the property and buildings take up a full city block. I love how the film reveals so much about the history, mystery and exclusiveness of Savannah society. The eccentric characters who reside in this fair southern city are gradually introduced. They have so many facets to their unsual personalities and natures that the viewer is held captive, in suspense, anxiously waiting for dark ghosts to appear or well kept secrets to be revealed. I was glued to this film from start to finish. The demarcations of various levels in society as well as the deep southern culture were reason enough to remain entranced but then add to this mix a little voo doo ceremony in a cemetery and a very lovely black female entertainer named Lady Chablis, the film becomes nonstop entertainment. The eccentricities of specific characters makes the plot, drama, and murder mystery fit together like a good puzzle.

John Kelso is nearly speechless when he discovers Mandy, a curvaceous and beautiful blonde knocking on his door during the wee hours of the morning, allegedly to borrow ice for a party next door. John is invited to a party where he learns that Mandy and her partner Joe Odom own a local jazz club. The southern lifestyle in Savannah is rich with fascinating customs. John Kelso is beginning to enjoy his assignment. At the William's Christmas party John meets even more wealthy and prestigious socialites, the upper crust of Savannah society.

The morning after the party, John is awakened by police car sirens. He learns a murder had occured at Mercer House and that Jim Williams was arrested. In his own study Jim had shot one of his hired workers, allegedly in self-defense. Jim pleads innocent to the charge of murder. As the trial begins, suspicions abound about Jim and his relationship to his employee. John Kelso believes Jim is innocent and does research to bring forth evidence to this effect. On one of his sojourns he meets "Lady Chablis" one of the most unusual characters in the film. She plays a key role in the trial. Jim's defense is sounding less convincing after the fact becomes known that there is no gunpowder residue on the hands of the victim. Sonny Jim's lawyer has his work cut out for him. The twists and turns of the plot during the trial make for a thrilling and sharply curved roller coaster of a viewing experience. One night John Kelso has a brain-storm. He visits Mandy who helps him sneak into the hospital morgue where by serendipity he discovers a clue which helps Jim's case. This crucial evidence provides the reasonable doubt necessary which will likely convince the jury to get Jim off the murder wrap.

This film is most fascinating because of how it depicts the lifestyle of Savannah, local history, the unique southern culture and the different social strata of society. The entire film is very delightful and entertaining. The characters are colorful, eccentric, and very charming ... Amazingly, the story is based on real events which happened in Savannah but with slight changes and variations made due to adapting the book into a film. In some cases the actual people play themselves and no one could imagine better characters than the real ones. This film is worth viewing more than once for the many fascinating details related to the plot, location, and cultural setting: Savannah, Georgia. Erika Borsos (pepper flower)

For years I put off watching this movie because of lukewarm reviews, but when I finally rented it I was delighted by its surrealistic regional irony. In fact, I was laughing out loud through much of the movie. Granted, social satire tends to rely on exaggeration and stereotype for effect, but its humor succeeds most when it portrays characters in a sympathetic rather than derisive light. This movie succeeds admirably in that regard.

One complaint is that, as with many Ron Howard or Steven Spielberg movies, a bit of sentimental shmaltz creeps in at times, for example with the voodoo priestess character. Thank heaven at least they didn't cast Whoopi Goldberg in the role.

If movies such as "Fargo", "Best in Show", and "Eyes Wide Shut" left you more puzzled than tickled, then this movie may seem as slow and inactive as some critics accuse. Other critics bemoan that it doesn't do the book justice: I have not read the book, but I do feel that the movie stands well on its own. So much so, in fact, that I immediately went to Amazon afterwards and purchased it. For me, anyway, this movie is a keeper.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Copper Top
Great movie!! A little long, but over all it was a great movie. We just spent some time in Savannah Ga and it was nice to see some of the houses up close and personal, that we saw... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Copper Top

4.0 out of 5 stars "Truth,like art,is in the eye of the beholder"-4 1/2 stars.
I have had this film on my desk for review for a long,long time and now with the recent re-release(June/10)by Warners of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,along with many... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Robert Badgley

2.0 out of 5 stars "Bad juju."
John Kelso (John Cusack) is a writer who has come to Savannah to cover a big party given by socialite Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey). Read more

Published on July 5 2009 by Kona

2.0 out of 5 stars I liked this movie...
...back when it was called "The Great Gatsby!" This movie (and book) is a thinly-veiled rip-off of The Great Gatsby.

Published on Jun 23 2004 by T. COPELAND

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
I read the book when it first appeared on the bestseller list, and waited for the movie, holding my breath. Read more

Published on Jun 8 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story, but just a little too long and too slow
This is a true story of a reporter who went to Savannah to do a short piece for "Town and Country" magazine. Read more

Published on Jun 7 2004 by Linda Linguvic

3.0 out of 5 stars Dark at "Midnight"
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... Read more

Published on May 22 2004 by E. A Solinas

2.0 out of 5 stars A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT
The book this movie was based on is such a good book! The movie, unfortunately is not even on the same level. Read more

Published on May 10 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A little flabby, but otherwise excellent
I have read the book, and bought the DVD. In a way they compliment each other; the book provides the real story, and the film allows you to read the book and have the characters... Read more

Published on April 19 2004 by Ben

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Culture on the Skids!
The beauty of Savannah is captured in this quirky tale of a wealthy gentlemen charged with the murder of his crass protege. Read more

Published on April 15 2004 by James R. Mckinley

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