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:

Mandalay Beach Resort, Oxnard, 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

Newman's character has a few similarities with Lew Harper, the private eye played by Newman in The Moving Target and The Drowning Pool. It is quite possible that "Twilight" is meant to be an unofficial end to the saga of Harper. Newman said he liked returning to his old characters, he did it with Eddie Felson in The Color of Money 25 years after The Hustler with great success. Lew Harper was the movie version of Lew Archer, the protagonist in Ross MacDonald's famous novels. In "Twilight", Newman plays Harry Ross, which is probably a nod to MacDonald. Gene Hackman played a detective named "Harry Moseby" in Night Moves, also based on a P.I. created by Ross MacDonald.

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Goofs

At the end of the film when the interrogation of Ross ends, the police detective switches off the tape recorder, and then states the date and time. Why would he switch switch off the recorder before stating the date and time?

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Quotes

Raymond Hope: Has your prostate started acting up yet?
Harry Ames: No
Raymond Hope: Oh well, you've got that to look forward to.

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Connections

References Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)

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Soundtracks

"The Very Thought of You"
Written by Ray Noble

User Reviews

One of this year's best

This may be one of the most underrated movies ever. Robert Benton's sharp, smart, moving and funny tribute to the "film noire" genre was undeservingly scolded by most of the critics and it is a real shame. "Twilight" is one of a few movies I saw this year, that reminds us the taste of a really good cinema. It stars a team of Hollywood's greatest stars, it has a truly great script, it's relatively short (and you will be sorry it ended that fast) and it is a total enjoyment for any movie lover. And if it's not enough, there is an incredibly hot sex scene with an amazingly sexy Rhis Witherspoon. You shouldn't miss that, I guarantee you.