Great Actors, Great Story
Twilight Brings Both To Big Screen

As I sat in the darkened theater watching the new mystery, Twilight, I realized how much has been missing from Hollywood of late. Great movies used to mean more than big budgets and special effects. Great movies should be about great performances by great actors. There are plenty of both in Twilight, an old-fashioned detective story about greed, lust, murder and betrayal.

Veteran actor Paul Newman plays Harry Ross, a retired cop, former detective, and erstwhile drunk who has fallen into the lives of two Hollywood stars. After being hired to recover their runaway daughter two years ago, Harry has become a fixture around the Ames estate. He has befriended Jack (Gene Hackman) and does various odd jobs for him, but it is apparent that he is also in love with Ames' wife, Catherine (Susan Sarandon).

When Harry runs an errand for Jack, he finds a dead man -- a retired cop -- and a number of questions. He begins to uncover bits of the past, pieces of the Ames' lives which would better be left buried. Investigating the death of the cop, Harry becomes suspect himself, and his connection to the Ames leads the police to wonder if the two stars could be involved. Regardless of his friendship with Jack, Harry begins to pursue the truth -- no matter where it leads.

Twilight spins an excellent mystery, something reminiscent of Raymond Chandler or John D. MacDonald. The characters are everything here, and in the hands of lesser actors it would have fallen apart. "You never said you're sorry," Jack tells Harry. Harry says, "You haven't been listening." That's true for the audience, too. So much of what is said, is never spoken. Instead, it comes across in a glance, a turn, or even in the way Newman sits across the room from someone.

In a supporting role, Stockard Channing plays Harry's former partner on the force, a lieutenant named Verna. Channing plays Verna with a devilish quality, softened by her apparent affection for Harry. James Garner (one of my favorites) plays a hotshot ex-cop named Raymond Hope who has been a friend of the Ames' for years and who introduced Harry to Jack. Garner is excellent, playing the hard-boiled detective which has become his second nature.

All in all, I give a hearty recommendation for Twilight. Although there is some sexuality and nudity, it is tasteful and brief. Lovers of mysteries and lovers of good cinema will all enjoy a truly great work.

MY RATING: 7 out of 10.

RATED:
RUN TIME: 94 min.

Great Actors, Great Story Twilight Brings Both To Big Screen

Great Actors, Great Story
Twilight Brings Both To Big Screen