Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

From NetFlix:

When magazine writer John Kelso (John Cusack) travels to Savannah, Ga., to cover a chichi party thrown by urbane antiques dealer Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey), he is pulled into his subject’s intriguing murder trial and introduced to a throng of colorful locals. Set against the beguiling backdrop of Southern high society, this retelling of John Berendt’s novel by director Clint Eastwood also stars Jude Law as Williams’s lover, Billy Hanson.

After I read the book in preparation for a trip to Savannah, which is the scene of the novel, I then watched this film, which turned out to be fairly faithful to the text. In the book Jim Williams has four trials, whereas in the film he has only one. Unfortunately this long film is merely mediocre. In fact, some of my watching companions went to sleep.

Jude Law, who was 25 years old at the time of shooting, has a rather limited part although his murder is central to the story.

Kevin Spacey is ever the cool, suave gentlemen.

“The Lady Chablis” is played by a real life drag queen named “The Lady Chablis”.

John Berendt’s novel is base on actual events.

Heard enough?

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