Twilight (1998)

A retired ex-cop and private detective (Newman) who lives with a rich actor (Hackman) who is dying from cancer and his actress wife (Sarandon) gets mixed up in murder when he is asked to ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Benton

Writers:

Robert Benton, Richard Russo

Stars:

Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Harry Ross
Susan Sarandon	...	Catherine Ames
Gene Hackman	...	Jack Ames
Reese Witherspoon	...	Mel Ames
Stockard Channing	...	Lt. Verna Hollander
James Garner	...	Raymond Hope
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Reuben Escobar
Liev Schreiber	...	Jeff Willis
Margo Martindale	...	Gloria Lamar
John Spencer	...	Capt. Phil Egan
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Lester Ivar
Peter Gregory	...	Verna's Partner
Rene Mujica	...	Mexican Bartender
Jason Clarke	...	Young Cop #1
Patrick Malone	...	Younger Cop (as Patrick Y. Malone)

Storyline

A retired ex-cop and private detective (Newman) who lives with a rich actor (Hackman) who is dying from cancer and his actress wife (Sarandon) gets mixed up in murder when he is asked to deliver blackmail money. He walks into a 20 year old case involving the mysterious disappearance of the actress's former husband. James Garner appears as another ex-cop who also does occasional errands for the couple.

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Plot Keywords:

blackmail | money | private detective | disappearance | actress | 

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Taglines:

Some people can buy their way out of anything. Except the past.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Magic Hour

Filming Locations:

Schindler House, 835 North Kings Road, West Hollywood, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,866,411 (USA) (6 March 1998)

Gross:

$15,030,732 (USA) (1 May 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinehaus, Paramount Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie clip that Paul Newman and Gene Hackman view briefly toward the end of the film is of a much younger Hackman along with Dabney Coleman from Downhill Racer.

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Goofs

When Jack plays solitaire near the end of the film, the number of cards dealt face up decreases each time the camera returns to him in three quick cuts and the cards have disappeared.

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Quotes

Harry: I was hoping to talk to Jack.
Catherine: And here I thought it was my company. Jack took a sedative and went to bed. Something got him terribly upset this afternoon. I had an idea that maybe you might know what happened. (He says nothing) Course not. That's why people hire you, cause you're mute!
Harry: Where's Mel?
Catherine: She came home for about twenty minutes then went to work. She's working on a low budget picture. They had a night shoot. She had a very interesting question. She wanted to know why the hell you're ...
[...]

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Connections

Features I Never Sang for My Father (1970)

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Soundtracks

"P.M. Country Blues"
Written by Peter Matz

User Reviews

A highly professional piece of work.

This movie didn't do well with the critics or at the box office but if you're in a nostalgic mood I'll think you'll enjoy it. The nostalgia is not just for the stars, Newman, Hackforth and Garner but for the whole private eye genre of the forties. All three stars show why they have been tops for so long. At 73 Newman can still make the action and the sex scenes creditable. It gives new hope to men of a certain age everywhere! It is a film that probably plays better on TV than in a movie house. The pace is leisurely but there is some nice sharp dialogue and atmospheric camera work. All this plus a moody score by Leonard Bernstein make for a highly professional entertainment. The more I think about it the more I like it.