MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL

US, 1998, 155 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, Jack Thompson, Allison Eastwood, Paul Hipp, Jude Law, Bob Gunton, Kim Hunter, Lady Chablis.
Directed by Clint Eastwood.

Not one's first contender for a Clint Eastwood film. John Berendt's fact-novel was on best-seller lists for years. Now it is a long, meandering, elegant movie. If it is principally about the murder and the trial at its centre, then it is not particularly dramatic. If, on the other hand, it is more a portrait of Savannah society, its closed wealthy class, its manners, its secrets and its gallery of eccentric characters who are linked to the murder and the trial, then it is a telling portrait.

Kevin Spacey gives another understated portrait of evil with the veneer of charm as the accused art dealer. Jack Thompson has a meaty role, accent and all, as the defence attorney. But John Cusack is stolid, with forced humour, as the investigating journalist. It is the visuals of the Savannah mansions, the atmosphere of the South and the supporting cast, especially drag queen Lady Chablis as herself (hijacking the film at one stage) which make this interesting viewing. A city of fasionable decay.


1. Audience interest in the film? A crime and investigation? Court case? Journalist investigation? Portrait of Savannah?

2. Clint Eastwood’s choice of film? Interest in the south? The birthplace of Johnny Mercer – his grave, the range of his songs throughout the film? Savannah society? The law, saving face? Sexuality, morals and a mores?

3. The adaptation of the book, a factual book? The opening out of the book? The journalist, his arrival, reporting and the party, meeting Williams, understanding him, observing society, the response to the murder? His exploration of the crime, motivations? The truth of what happened?

4. John Kelso as a journalist, his arrival, the tourist bus his interest in the homes? Minerva in the park? Meeting Betty, her enthusiasm, the museum? Meeting Jim, the house, the build up-to the party? Exploring the house with him? The traditions of the old South? Old money, new money? Kelso and his meeting Mandy? Joe?

5. Kelso’s character, the background of his wife, his work, the publication of the book, mild success? Williams choosing him because of the book? The initial encounter with Billy on the street? His not being invited to the men’s party? His curiosity? Going to the club with Mandy, with Joe, the music, the next day and the party, meeting the eccentrics, their backgrounds, wealth?

6. Kevin Spacey as Jim Williams, his background, poverty, building his wealth, his interest in art, the Stubbs picture, Kelso’s art knowledge? the auctions and international phone calls? Kelso’s reaction to Billy, the threats to Jim? Williams and his staff, his mother, his sexuality but its not being acknowledged in society?

7. Mandy, relationship with Joe, the future ex-Mrs!? Her singing, the bar, the plans with Joe? His music, travels? Her being with John, helping him, getting into the morgue, the sexual relationship?

8. Sonny, meeting John, the contract to sign, protective of Jim? His explaining Savannah society, into values, saving face? Jovial, giving advice? Response to the murder, taking on the case, going on holidays, the seeming lack of preparation, his being shrewd, his speeches in the court, appealing to the jury, attack on the detective, carelessness in protecting the crime scene, the picture of the cat and the implications, the powder burns not on Billy’s hand? The performance in court? The encounter with Lady Chablis, deferring to her, his being urbane and the boisterous?

9. Kelso, his investigation, the planning of the book? Meeting various people, his interviews, Serena and her comments about Billy and society? Gathering information about Billy? The reticence, his visit to the ladies club, listening to the gossip?

10. The character of a Lady Chablis, taking over the film when she could? Relationship with Billy, her friend Corrine, her flirting with John? Personality, transvestite? John not expecting this? Her names, Frank, Doll, Lady Chablis? Audience response to her, interesting, sympathetic? Her manner of talking, lady’s manners, her clothes, performance at the club, songs, risqué repartee? The issue of going to the party, John’s refusal, her gate crashing, the spectacular dress, causing eyebrows to be raised, gossip, the debutante’s beau, getting him to dance, John and his dancing, everybody watching? The discussions with John, his anger, her contrariness? The decision to go to court, the black outfits, wanting to take over, addressing the jury, the judge controlling her? A symbol of Savannah?

11. Jim, in prison, calm, his story, the significance of the flashbacks, Billy and more information about him, prostitute, money, his car, relationship with Jim, Jim’s explanation when called as witness? Issues of homosexuality? the reality of the confrontation? Smashing the clock, the threats, his gun jamming, Jim shooting him, the truth, the stories? the imaginary sequence, both men lying on the floor, Billy’s eyes, dead, his disappearing?

12. Kelso’s sympathy for Jim, or not? The effect of investigation, the truth, the encounters with Jim, his behavior in court, his mother being absent when sexuality was discussed, the Jim’s entourage? His acquittal? Preparations for the next party? His collapsing, death? Kelso at the funeral? With Mandy?

13. Luther, an eccentric character, his strip invention, going to the diner, his moods, the bottle of poison, the threat to the water supply? On the jury, his enjoying the case, taking notes, announcing the verdict? the prosecutor, his speech, the mention of Hobbes, the contrast with Sonny and his genial approach? The contrast between someone running for office and the good ole boy?

14. The cumulative result of the film, in terms of characters and interactions, in terms of crime, investigation and trial, in terms of life and style in Savannah, in Georgia?