DVD Search - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil DVD

Clint Eastwood directed this adaptation of John Berendt's non-fiction best-seller about a Savannah, Georgia, murder case. When this film was released, Berendt's book had been on best-seller lists for four years. As the film begins, New York journalist John Kelso (John Cusack), alter ego of author Berendt, arrives in Savannah to do a brief Town and Country article on the annual Christmas party given by sophisticated, urbane antique dealer Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey), who restored many mansions in Savannah, including the famed Mercer House where he lives. After the party, Williams kills his rude, violent lover Billy Hanson (Jude Law), explaining it as a necessary act of self-defense. Kelso decides to stay in Savannah to cover the trial, encountering a variety of colorful locals, eccentric and otherwise, including black transvestite nightclub performer Lady Chablis (appearing as herself), financially challenged bon vivant Joe Odom (Paul Hipp), vocalist Mandy Nichols (Alison Eastwood), voodoo priestess Minerva (Irma P. Hall), and Williams's deceptively powerful defense attorney Sonny Seiler (Australian actor Jack Thompson with a very convincing Southern accent). Kelso develops a romantic interest in Mandy while tracking the events that led up to the killing. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Kevin Spacey - Jim Williams
John Cusack - John Kelso
Jack Thompson - Sonny Seiler
Lady Chablis - herself
Alison Eastwood - Mandy Nichols

The folks at Warner Brothers took great care with their Special Edition DVD release of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, resulting in a package which is almost more satisfying than the film itself. The special features and interactive menus offer a wealth of information on the film's history and production and are also quite educational, with historical notes on the city of Savannah. This film is noted for its lovingly compiled soundtrack featuring Johnny Mercer's timeless music. The DVD includes a history of Mercer as well as a list of his numerous awards and nominations. Also included is a soundtrack promo for the album, and the menus feature Canadian chanteuse k.d. lang singing "Stardust." Other features include a description of the film's adaptation from its original literary incarnation by John Berendt, as well as the theatrical trailer and a fantastic segment in which the actual locales, and in some cases, the actual characters from the book/film are introduced by Berendt. The DVD can be played in English or French and comes with Spanish, English, and French subtitles. ~ Jose Promis, All Movie Guide