Twilight

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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 5/5 Stars •  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 5/5 Stars •  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 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/23 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 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a movie for grown ups, about grown ups that doesn't bother to pander to the youth market. Its late 20th century LA noir, that sunkissed or more exactly sunburnt edition of a long simmering murder mystery with various varieties of ex-cop, private dicks, jaded LAPD types and someone somewhere who works for a studio and has more money and more bills and other problems than they can handle. Twilight's cast is what makes this feel more like a buffet instead of a four course meal at a white table cloth establishment. The players include James Garner, Stockard Channing, Reese Witherspoon, Liev Shriver, Giancarlo Esposito, Margo Martindale and as the fabulous duo of Gene Hackman and the one and only Paul Newman. Sometimes a swan song is just that, or this movie when you're in that mood. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review steve d Great cast, fun story strong script. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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