Twilight

R

Released Mar 6, 1998

1 hr. 34 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

61%

62 Reviews

Tomatometer

31%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Harry (Paul Newman), a retired private eye, lives in an apartment on the grounds of the estate owned by his old friends Catherine (Susan Sarandon) and Jack (Gene Hackman), movie stars at the end of their careers. Shot by the couple's runaway daughter, Mel (Reese Witherspoon), some years ago, Harry subsists on their guilt and good will as he wrestles with a lifetime of regret. While delivering a mysterious package, Harry is drawn into a blackmail scheme that threatens to shatter all their lives.

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Critics Consensus

It suffers from a frustratingly deliberate pace, but with nuanced performances from Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, and Reese Witherspoon to fall back on, Twilight can't help but be compelling.

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Alex S

This is an amazing late 90s film noir. It has an amazing cast that you just couldn't find in today's acting pool. The story is good and I mean Garner and Hackman and Newman plus Sarandon and more. I feel this is a must watch for anyone who likes the film noir genre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Matthew D

A quiet neo-noir with style and old stars. Director Robert Benton's neo-noir crime drama Twilight (1998) is really intriguing and mature. Benton's direction is hazy, dreamy, and moody with dark shadows and tender character. I appreciate the late 90's still doing film noir pictures with a striking visual style. It's neat that casting director Ilene Starger hired all these elderly old stars like Paul Newman and Gene Hackman to star opposite sexy younger actresses like Reese Witherspoon and Susan Sarandon. I was enthralled by Robert Benton's direction and his ensemble's nuanced acting. Writers Robert Benton and Richard Russo craft a neat mystery full of old Hollywood stars and secret packages. I like how Twilight is about aging, love, and lies and never shies away from hard truths. Paul Newman is quite subtle as the observant and aging private detective Harry Ross. He feels as astute and grounded as when Newman portrayed Harper in 1966. I really appreciate his nuanced gestures and forlorn glances. Susan Sarandon flirts with her eyes and lips as Catherine Ames and also cues the audience as to when she's suspicious. She's lovely and alluring for an ideal 90's femme fatale. Gene Hackman quietly threatens and insults as a shady rich actor Jack Ames. Reese Witherspoon is gorgeous, hilarious, and sullen as Sarandon's teenage daughter Mel Ames. Witherspoon was already ready to be a star acting maturely with a grace opposite Paul Newman. Stockard Channing is pretty and likable as Newman's real love interest Lieutenant Verna Hollander. Giancarlo Esposito is a riot as foolish amateur sleuth Reuben Escobar. I like how he genuinely wants to help Newman's Harry, but he cannot stomach the violence. Liev Schreiber is sleazy, underhanded, and silly as Jeff Willis. Margo Martindale is both funny and moving as Gloria Lamar, who Newman keeps calling Mucho. M. Emmet Walsh is scary in his cameo as the trigger happy Lester Ivar. James Garner is immediately suspicious as the sinister cleaner Raymond Hope. Clint Howard cameos as an EMS Worker. Editor Carol Littleton makes 94 minutes a swift and steady neo-noir mystery. Her hard cuts follow Newman closely and always keep us with him in this shady narrative. Cinematographer Piotr Sobocinski likewise has the camera in close-ups of Newman's blue eyes, so we know when he's found a new clue or revealed a secret. The dark shadows and tons of reflective mirror shots are beautiful and feel like a Michael Mann film. Production designer David Gropman makes lavish Hollywood estates with stunning art direction from David J. Bomba. The shadows and dark lighting adhere to film noir standards while set decorator Beth A. Rubino strategically places mirrors everywhere to keep Newman in frame. Composer Elmer Bernstein's breathtaking film score is melodic with a gentle nature to his piano and string arrangements. He brings a romantic and mournful somber sound to Twilight. Costume designer Joseph G. Aulisi gives Reese Witherspoon and Susan Sarandon these luxurious outfits, while everyone else is in rough jackets. In all, Twilight should be remembered as a great neo-noir picture later in Newman's illustrious career.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

Josh R

Classic noir in modern entourage. Paul Newman is good even in old age!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/01/23

Full Review

Mike J

Paul Newman is brilliant as always

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/30/22

Full Review

robert p

Neither a great movie, but only so-so on mystery!!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hard to believe this was made only 20 years ago, seriously dated, with corny direction, and at times, cringe worthy dialogue. It's like a b grade Tele movie from the early 70s.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

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Robert Benton

Director

Paul Newman

Harry Ross

Susan Sarandon

Catherine Ames

Gene Hackman

Jack Ames

Reese Witherspoon

Mel Ames

Stockard Channing

Lieutenant Verna Hollander

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Adrian Martin

The Age (Australia)

The dead opposite of a "spectacular," Twilight will satisfy those who can gladly attune themselves to the novelistic subtleties of psychological mystery-thriller action.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 2, 2023

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

With its underlying theme of Hollywood class resentment and an array of B-list citizenry, Robert Benton's aptly titled Twilight is better than a lot of contemporary films at capturing the feel of vintage Los Angeles-based detective fiction.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C+

Nov 22, 2011

Full Review

Rob Lowing

The Sun-Herald (Australia)

It's a reunion flick which plays like a vanity flick -- the actors are enjoying being together so why bother with getting the audience revved up?

Rated: 3/10

Feb 2, 2023

Full Review

Tom Ryan

The Sunday Age

It never reaches the heights of 1994's Nobody's Fool, Robert Benton's previous collaboration with Paul Newman and writer Richard Russo, but this gentle, low-key detective thriller features a great cast and goes its own whimsical way.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 2, 2023

Full Review

Gary Wolcott

Tri-City Herald

Twilight is genuinely taut thriller with plenty of twists and turns. It has an intelligent plot and actors who don't need slow motion special effects to make things interesting.

Jan 24, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Harry (Paul Newman), a retired private eye, lives in an apartment on the grounds of the estate owned by his old friends Catherine (Susan Sarandon) and Jack (Gene Hackman), movie stars at the end of their careers. Shot by the couple's runaway daughter, Mel (Reese Witherspoon), some years ago, Harry subsists on their guilt and good will as he wrestles with a lifetime of regret. While delivering a mysterious package, Harry is drawn into a blackmail scheme that threatens to shatter all their lives.

Director: Robert Benton
Executive Producer: Michael Hausman
Screenwriter: Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Cinehaus
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.0M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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