May 05, 2003 11:43 AM
1793 Views
(Updated May 06, 2003 06:10 AM)
Based on the book by John Berendt
Screenplay by John Lee Hancock
Produced by Arnold Stiefel
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Staring: John Cusack, Kevin Spacey, Jack Thompson, Alison Eastwood, and The Lady Chablis among others.
This film takes you to one of the most beautiful places in the United States, Savanna Georgia. From the prestigious homes to the historical cemeteries this film takes the viewer through a maze of mystery and drama.
This film, (if you are lucky enough to get a copy of the DVD) comes also with a documentary showing the real people around Savanna Georgia that the film is loosely based on. You're even told about the mascot of the University of Georgia, which stars in this movie.
Parts of the film is shot in the Mercer House, which is located in Savanna. Johnny Mercer's Great grandfather started this house in 1860, but no Mercer ever lived there. In 1968, Jim Williams bought the house and restored the mansion to glory. Even Minerva, the voodoo lady is a real person that lives just up the road in South Carolina.
Not every scene is shot in Savanna; some are created at Warner-Bros. Studios in Burbank California. One of those scenes was the Court Room scene, which was in reality, a shot on a sound stage. It's understandable, I suppose that we Georgian's love Savanna so much being that it was the first city established in Georgia.
It was founded in 1733 when General James Edward Oglethorpe arrived on Yamacraw Bluff to establish the last of the 13 colonies. As for the film score, 14 of Johnny Mercer's songs were used.
While all this is important, and does add splendor to the film, it would be nothing more than a brief and somewhat limited tour of Savanna if it weren't for the wonderful story line of this movie.
John Cusack plays a reporter that is flown in from New York to cover a Christmas Party held by Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey) one of Savanna's riches natives. Jim Williams is an antique dealer who has a love and an eye for the old, but also has a love for someone else. But when that love is ended in a manner that casts a light of suspicion on Jim, the story the reporter thought he was sending in is drastically changed.
I love buying older films, because I feel I can get more for my money. So if you're like me, and enjoy films that may not be the most recent in release, this one is well worth the money.
