Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Like every film Clint Eastwood makes, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is fascinated by the mystery of masculinity: what it means to be a man, and what you have to do to be the kind of man you think you need to be. Based on a book by the same name, the film recounts a complex tale of murder, involving characters who seem your everyday people but carry deep difference underneath.

Set in the beautiful town of Savannah, Georgia, the film focuses on a murder and the subsequent trial of Jim Williams: self made man, art collector, antiques dealer, bon vivant and semi-closeted homosexual. John Kelso a magazine reporter finds himself in Savannah amid the beautiful architecture and odd doings to write a feature on one of William's famous Christmas parties. He is intrigued by Williams from the start, but his curiosity is piqued when he meets Jim's violent, young and sexy lover, Billy. Later that night, Billy is dead, and Kelso stays on to cover the murder trial. Along the way he encounters the irrepressible Lady Chablis, a drag queen, Sonny, lawyer to Williams, whose famous dog UGA is the official mascot of the Georgia Bulldogs, an odd man who keeps flies attached to mini leashes on his lapels and threatens daily to poison the water supply, the Married Ladies Card Club.

Kevin Spacey's performance as Williams is rich and fun, his accent not note-perfect. John Cusack as John Kelso fits his part very well and keeps his charm for audience. The film in long and seems dragged at certain points but it still is pretty enjoyable. I liked character of drag queen and it does keep us entertained but I somehow fail to understand why was it given so much importance. Even the voodoo woman was a little to of the place but I guess Eastwood wanted to show some cultural aspects as well.

This is not really a gay cinema but nevertheless a decent story being played on the screen. (6/10)