Rating: 
Summary: Excellent film, well worth the money
Review: Oh Savannah, let's hope you have some more secrets like this hidden away. The likeness to the real characters is uncanny.
Rating: 
Summary: A wasted opportunity...
Review: Clint Eastwood seems to have achieved the impossible here-he has turned a rich, evocative story full of subtle, shaded, interesting characters into a flat, monochromatic and very dull movie. Instead of using atmospherics and mood to capture the mystery of Savannah and it's inhabitants, Eastwood opts for straight-narrative, made-for-tv style filmmaking, which at 155 minutes becomes an endurance test for the viewer. John Cusack's supposedly street-smart New York writer character acts wide-eyed surprised at even the most minor Savannah peccadillos. The fact that Cusack somewhat resembles the real story writer John Berendt seems to be the only reason for his casting here-it just doesn't work at all. None of the acting stands out, except perhaps The Lady Chablis, who in her amateurishness at leasts portrays a sense of charm and style. Perhaps in about 20 years, when the memory of this film effort has faded, another filmmaker can try another version, hopefully wrenching some of the mystery and imagination from the fine story.
Rating:
Summary: Great additional material on DVD
Review: This story is quirky, but very engaging. More importantly, the extras on the DVD really add to the movie. There are interviews with the author and many of the real life characters, some of who turn up in the movie. I agree with some of the other reviewers that this is a good example of the potential of the DVD format.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Excellent !
Review: I just love this movie ! The story is great, the casting is very pertinent and i'm amazed about how good was Clint Eastwood as the director of this movie. Probably the best movie in my big collection of DVD...Don't miss it !!!
Rating:
Summary: If you love the south and a good mystery..
Review: This was a great window into Southern Culture and style.. if you are not able to look between the lines in a movie then you might not enjoy this..but if you like the South and the culture you'll enjoy this great movie.
Rating:
Summary: a captivating story
Review: I loved this movie! Being set in Savannah, Ga. it was great to be able to recognize many of the sites. Kevin Spacey was outstanding as usual. This is a "must-see" for any Spacey fan or those who love a good mystery--and it just happens to be a true story, making it all the more intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie and great DVD. A must have...
Review: The movie is a truly magnificent film with all of the grandure of Savannah and the marvelous direction Clint Eastwood is known for. The DVD includes an interactive map of the town with facts about the real people behind the characters. The soundtrack comes across beautifully. Definitely a must have for the DVDphile!
Rating:
Summary: B-O-R-I-N-G
Review: This movie ranks up there with Dick Tracy (Warren Beatty, Madonna) as "Most Boring Movie". There are some nice scenes of the city of Savannah and its people but that doesn't make up for the movie's boring and seemingly unending plot. Very disappointed
Rating:
Summary: An even bigger disappointment than I expected.
Review: Despite the amazing acting and directing talent associated with this film, it was undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of the last year. Eastwood's straightforward style did little to capture the elegance and romance of one of America's most scenic and historical cities. While adapting this novel for the big screen was not an easy task, I still expected a much more engaging plot. Cusak, as always, did a better than fair job, adding some quirky humor in surprising places, but Spacey seemed to sleep walk his way through. I was truly relieved when the movie was finally over. In a nutshell, the confusing plot dragged on painfully, and I would not recommend this film to anyone. Even the biggest Eastwood, Cusak or Spacey fan is going to find just about any of their other films a better bet-they are an incredibly talented ensemble, but they didn't hit the mark here.
Rating:
Summary: One of Eastwood's best and funniest movies
Review: For years I put off watching this movie because of lukewarm reviews, but when I finally rented it I was delighted by its surrealistic regional irony. In fact, I was laughing out loud through much of the movie. Granted, social satire tends to rely on exaggeration and stereotype for effect, but its humor succeeds most when it portrays characters in a sympathetic rather than derisive light. This movie succeeds admirably in that regard.One complaint is that, as with many Ron Howard or Steven Spielberg movies, a bit of sentimental shmaltz creeps in at times, for example with the voodoo priestess character. Thank heaven at least they didn't cast Whoopi Goldberg in the role. If movies such as "Fargo", "Best in Show", and "Eyes Wide Shut" left you more puzzled than tickled, then this movie may seem as slow and inactive as some critics accuse. Other critics bemoan that it doesn't do the book justice: I have not read the book, but I do feel that the movie stands well on its own. So much so, in fact, that I immediately went to Amazon afterwards and purchased it. For me, anyway, this movie is a keeper.
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