Today’s quick review: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Magazine writer John Kelso (John Cusack) travels from New York to Savannah to cover Jim Williams’ (Kevin Spacey) Christmas party, a high-society soiree held at his opulent home. But the evening takes a dark turn when Jim kills Billy Hanson (Jude Law), one of his employees, in self-defense. John finds himself with a story that could make his career—if only he can get to the bottom of it.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a crime drama and mystery from director Clint Eastwood. The story follows John as he investigates what really happened the night of Billy’s death. Along the way, he gets a sampling of Savannah culture and learns a secret that Jim has worked hard to keep hidden. The movie is worth a watch for its flavorful setting and well-developed characters, even if its mystery does not have the impact it could have had.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a cultural portrait of Savannah, Georgia, or at least the offbeat characters who surround Jim Williams. As John inquires into Jim’s personal life, he’s exposed to a society whose genteel exterior masks more complicated social dynamics. The warm welcome John receives, the unusual people he meets, and the sense of peeking behind the curtain give the movie an anthropological appeal that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Still, the movie does not pack as much of a punch as other murder mysteries. The trial unfolds at a sedate pace, with only one or two important points brought up by either side. John does play a role in the investigation, but he turns up more about Jim’s social circle than the murder itself. There are a few revelations and moral ambiguities that make the mystery worthwhile, but mainly it is an excuse to look at the world through the eyes of John Kelso.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a solidly constructed drama with a distinct flavor to it. As a mystery, it has just enough substance to be interesting, but its main value comes from its foray into the lives of Savannah’s residents. Those who appreciate open-ended stories that let the audience draw its own conclusions will find the movie engaging. Those hoping for a tight murder mystery will find it to be slow and unfocused.
For a more thrilling legal drama with sharper twists, try Primal Fear. For a darker investigation into a celebrity’s dirty laundry, try Hollywoodland. For a mystery with more bite to it, try Mystic River or Gone Baby Gone.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a rich setting and vivid characters without the compelling mystery needed to tie it all together.