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Twilight (1998)
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Synopsis: As in his 1977 film THE LATE SHOW, Robert Benton focuses on a private detective who's playing the back nine. With the passing of a quarter century, however, the director's tone had grown more somber. Paul Newman stars as the detective, Harry Ross, living in semiretirement in Santa Monica on the... As in his 1977 film THE LATE SHOW, Robert Benton focuses on a private detective who's playing the back nine. With the passing of a quarter century, however, the director's tone had grown more somber. Paul Newman stars as the detective, Harry Ross, living in semiretirement in Santa Monica on the estate owned by his movie-star friends, Jack (Gene Hackman) and Catherine Ames (Susan Sarandon). When Harry delivers a package as a favor to Jack, he finds fellow private dick Lester Ivar (M. Emmett Walsh) dying from a bullet wound. Harry checks out Ivar's apartment, where he uncovers 20-year-old clippings relating to the disappearance of Catherine's first husband. As he tries to get to the bottom of the case, he enlists the help of a former lover, LAPD lt. Verna Hollander (Stockard Channing), and receives unsolicited assistance from feckless chauffeur Reuben Escobar (Giancarlo Esposito). Ex-cop and former studio security chief Raymond Hope (James Garner) also seems to know a thing or two about the case. Strong ensemble acting and Benton's characteristically nuanced and intelligent writing highlight this sinuous, richly textured murder mystery. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Stockard Channing, Cora Witherspoon
Screenwriter: Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Producer: Arlene Donovan, Scott Rudin
Composer: Elmer Bernstein
DVD Info
Release:
May 9, 2000
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
- Dolby Digital Surround - English
- Dolby Digital Surround - French
Additional Release Material:
- Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical
Interactive Features:
- Interactive Menus
- Scene Selection
Reviews
While it is always a pleasure to watch such heavyweights hold the screen together ... they deserved far more for their efforts than an emaciated potboiler that finally boils dry.
neither day nor night and neither fish nor fowl. The picture swaggers from moody mystery to raunchy comedy, and neither style is Benton or Russo's forte.
If this movie were cast with no-name actors or even rising stars, it would only be boring and undistinguished. But with a bill full of high-powered names like these, it's a downright disappointment.
Imagine a Medicare version of the private eye Paul Newman played in both “Harper” (1966) and “The Drowning Pool” (1976), and you have “Twilight.”
Mr. Benton's smart script, co-written with Richard Russo, allows the fine cast to explore honor, betrayal and desire among people who have lived long enough to know who they really are.
A slow moving mystery film that won't appeal to all audiences. It's so good to see this cast working together that you're willing to forgive the film's little shortcomings.
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