Simple and inexpressive. It's a strange movie. Such a chic cast and eminent director, but the masterpiece did not work. In my opinion, this movie came out in the wrong time, and if it appeared in the era of the 50s, it may have received some recognition, but in the 98th it all looks pale.
Three-time Oscar winner Robert Benton, here and screenwriter and director, apparently wanted to try to bring the genre of detective noir back into vogue or shoot his film in this category. But again, it all came out old-fashioned. Slow atmosphere and ease of presentation did not go well. I’m not saying it’s bad, but for the late nineties it’s all obsolete.
There are no incredible plot twists, tension, or deep and interesting investigations. A viewer who has previously reviewed or re-read a bunch of detectives, this film may interest (like me) only star cast. Of course, Newman and Hackman are lumps, Sarandon is a femme fatale, plus the young and unknown Witherspoon and Schreiber. But even their appearance is unlikely to dilute this sluggish theater.
Twilight is an example of good craft work, where everything is filmed according to past developments and samples. A typical noir detective, where jazz always plays in the background, the main character speaks out loud, and the killer is not the one who killed, but who stands above him. But that’s not enough; you need a spark and something unusual, not just a quality fake.