When you look at the cast of this movie, you start thinking: how did I miss this one? Moreover, how the fuck is this not a bigger movie? A movie that everybody was talking about in the late nineties. At least that’s what happened to me. Twilight is a solid, slow-burning neo-noir thriller featuring a familiar story and one hell of a cast. As it so usually happens, we will be following an older private detective, Harry Ross, who’s hired by the patriarch of the Ames family to find their daughter. Daughter who ran away from home with her boyfriend. Two years pass after Harry successfully brought her back, and they have another task for him. This time, Jack Ames asks Harry to deliver a small package.
This seemingly insignificant proposition will soon start unraveling all of their lives. There will be twists, turns, old secrets, and everything you would expect from a story like this. Only slightly toned down and easily digestible. This is both a blessing and a curse. Twilight will not be stuck in your mind for a long period of time. This is not one of those hard-hitting neo-noir masterpieces like Night Moves. I specifically mention that classic because it’s awfully similar to this one. We have the runaway daughter, troubled mother, and even Gene Hackman. Speaking of the cast, in the lead role we find dependable Paul Newman, still kicking ass.
The man was a national treasure, and he still looks fine as hell. At the tender age of motherfucking seventy-five. Susan Sarandon was the right choice for the proverbial femme fatale. Each scene she’s in is sizzling with tension, either erotic or just plain old regular. And we also have young Reese Witherspoon, who appears nude for the first time. I know that some of you will consider this a worthless piece of information. However, just think of all those who will decide to give this movie a chance, exactly because of that. And Twilight deserves a chance. Sure, it features a stereotypical story without much tension, but it’s cozy as fuck.
And you get a chance to see a lot of great actors work the shit out of a mediocre script. I mean, that’s just the first line-up; we also have Liev Schreiber, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jason Clarke. And that’s not even the complete list. The pacing is slower but deliberate, letting characters slowly emerge and develop. So, if you’re expecting a lot of action or high-stakes chases, you won’t find them here. Of course, the Los Angeles setting is always a plus. And remember, it’s the late nineties, but the City of Angels looks like it’s straight from the seventies. It’s funny how you have all these movies set during the same time have a totally different feel. Some top-level movie reviewer shit right here.
I know that after all of this, you might be wondering if this movie is really worth your time. Let me be clear, Twilight is definitely a movie worth watching. Especially when you compare it to the stuff that’s coming out these days. It belongs to a breed of thrillers that’s almost completely gone these days. When it comes to the story, while it might sound a bit unrealistic, I assure you it’s quite the opposite. Just a couple of days ago, I recommended a documentary, Should I Merry A Murderer, featuring some of the exact same plot points from Twilight. Finally, I’m guessing you noticed something about the characters of this movie by now. They’re old. However, they’re not old old, they’re not senile or incompetent.
They’re old, but they’re alive and fully aware of the fact that they’re old and that the end is near. They don’t act on that notion brashly but deliberately, contemplatively. Something that is alluded to in the title of the movie. We also see young people being young people, acting on impulse and creating havoc. Just a side note, don’t take this too seriously.
Director: Robert Benton
Writers: Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Cast: Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, Giancarlo Esposito, Liev Schreiber
Fun Facts: All the scenes taking place in the police station in the movie Twilight were shot in LAPD Hollywood Division Station House. You can see real police officers walking about in almost every shot.
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IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119594/
