Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Enjoyable production of work by John Berendt published in 1994. This non-fiction film was produced by Clint Eastwood. The story is set around the murder trial of prominent eccentric socialite and respected antiques dealer Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) in Savannah, Georgia. Williams was being tried for the shooting death of Billy Hanson, a part-time employee, and occasional lover.
The movie begins when John Cusack arrives in Savannah to write an article about Williams's Christmas party for Town And Country magazine. He is introduced to Jim Williams at his home, Mercer House, which was the former home of singer/song-writer Johnny Mercer. This home was built by Confederate General Hugh Mercer in 1861. Williams has purchased and renovated it in recent years. On the night of the gala, Cusack meets many of the guests and comes to a friendship with Williams. During the course of this party, Cusack meets Billy Hanson, who obviously intoxicated and irritated, demands some money from Williams for drugs, but he refuses. Hanson also broke a bottle and threatened both Cusack and Williams with harm at the time. Hours later, after the party, Hanson is shot and killed by Williams.
Jim insisted that Hanson returned late that night, completely intoxicated or stoned, and they had argued. Williams was supposed to leave on a trip to Europe on business, and he was also taking Billy, but in light of his actions, Williams had decided not to bring him along. In a rage, Billy destroyed a very valuable antique clock. When Williams attempted to call the police, Hanson pulled a gun and fired. Jim said that he fired back in self defense and killed Billy. The police subsequently arrested Williams and charged him with murder. There case hinged upon the fact that no gunshot residue was found on Billy's hands.
Suddenly, Cusack's testimony becomes central to this case, having seen and heard Billy's earlier threats, and witnessed his behavior. In fact the mere sense that he was there as a New York journalist sort of elevated him to a status of authority. This movie is filled with characters and back-stories of house squatters, transsexual individuals, crazy people with insects on strings, and gun toting debutantes. Not to mention, Minerva, the local Voodoo queen who is in communication with both the living and dead.
Williams's lawyer is convinced of his client's innocence but some way has to be found around the lack gunshot residue on Billy's hands. As it turns out, the detective in the case lied about having Billy's hands bagged at the crime scene, and Cusack uncovered this lie when he spoke with the Emergency Room nurse at the hospital who was on duty when Billy's body arrived. She stated that she had bagged his hands at the request of the police. This, along with Billy Hanson's shady reputation, was enough to raise doubts and cause a NOT GUILTY verdict. Once again, the rich go free. . . But all is not lost, as Jim Williams had a heart attack and died in the same room as Billy just a few days after the trial.Read full review
