Twilight (1998)

59% of critics liked it
(54 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(3,874 ratings)

The Nobody's Fool (1994) team of Paul Newman, director Robert Benton, and scripter Richard Russo reassembled for this L.A. detective drama, beginning with a Puerto Vallarta prologue showing private eye Harry Ross (Newman) accidentally shot by 17-year-old Mel Ames (Reese Witherspoon) during his… More The Nobody's Fool (1994) team of Paul Newman, director Robert Benton, and scripter Richard Russo reassembled for this L.A. detective drama, beginning with a Puerto Vallarta prologue showing private eye Harry Ross (Newman) accidentally shot by 17-year-old Mel Ames (Reese Witherspoon) during his efforts to get her to return home. Two years later, the broke and divorced Ross lives in a garage apartment on the estate of Mel's parents, his movie-star friends Jack and Catherine Ames (Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon). The cancer-ridden Jack is not unaware that Harry is attracted to Catherine. Delivering a package for Jack, Harry encounters elderly Lester Ivar (M. Emmet Walsh), who shoots at Harry and then dies. Harry's curiosity is provoked when he discovers that Ivar was an investigator checking into the disappearance of Catherine's first husband, written off 20 years earlier as an unsolved case, but now reactivated as Harry's sleuth-work leads him on a trail of past crimes and cover-ups. The Ames residence is actually the former Cedric Gibbons-Delores Del Rio home, and a never-completed Frank Lloyd Wright house near Malibu served as the Ames' ranchhouse. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Robert Benton
Written By: Robert Benton, Richard Russo
Genres: Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Mar 6, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Oct 6, 1998
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Despite its pluses, despite trying to do all the right things, Twilight comes up lacking in both energy and plot, two areas that no noir, geezer or otherwise, can afford to be caught short in.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie's story is too obvious in its message, and too absurd in its plotting.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Too much of it feels like a movie made by geezers, with geezers and for geezers.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Part of Twilight's charm is the way it reconfigures Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and Rio Lobo in the process of making its own discoveries, not so much imitating or appropriating the earlier films as applying their strategies to goals quite alien to Hawks.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
A fascinating, elegantly plotted yarn that offers a haunting perspective on who we seem to be, who we are and what really counts.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The movie has a hazy, sleepy, and sad look that reminded me (favorably) of Chinatown. Brilliant.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Never less than engaging and intelligent.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
neither day nor night and neither fish nor fowl. The picture swaggers from moody mystery to raunchy comedy, and neither style is Benton or Russo's forte.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
If this movie were cast with no-name actors or even rising stars, it would only be boring and undistinguished. But with a bill full of high-powered names like these, it's a downright disappointment.
Brandon Judell, Critics Inc./America Online
Imagine a Medicare version of the private eye Paul Newman played in both "Harper" (1966) and "The Drowning Pool" (1976), and you have "Twilight."
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Mr. Benton's smart script, co-written with Richard Russo, allows the fine cast to explore honor, betrayal and desire among people who have lived long enough to know who they really are.
Larry Carroll, Countingdown.com
A slow moving mystery film that won't appeal to all audiences. It's so good to see this cast working together that you're willing to forgive the film's little shortcomings.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Cast is far above the material in this throwback try at a noir in color. If you like any of the actors worth checking out.
Dean !

A decent slow paced thriller, more of a detective story really. It has a great cast Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, Paul Newman and a very early, memorable role for Reese Witherspoon. If you like detective stories and a plot with a slight twist you might like this, but it could do with… More
A decent slow paced thriller, more of a detective story really. It has a great cast Gene Hackman, Susan Sarandon, Paul Newman and a very early, memorable role for Reese Witherspoon. If you like detective stories and a plot with a slight twist you might like this, but it could do with a bit more action at least. It seems to have slipped by most people but it's worth a watch if it's on.
Bruce B

Twilight: There is a number of movies out there with the title just plain Twilight, they seem to come out every few years. This is not the 2009 Vampire Movie Twilight. This is the 1998 Twilight Movie with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Resse Witherspoon, James Garner and Stockard… More
Twilight: There is a number of movies out there with the title just plain Twilight, they seem to come out every few years. This is not the 2009 Vampire Movie Twilight. This is the 1998 Twilight Movie with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Resse Witherspoon, James Garner and Stockard Channing. Director Robert Benton has crafted a film reminiscent of the 1940's. With this lineup you expect a great movie and that?s what you get. Remember keep your mind open to the fact it was filmed in 1998 and not 2008. Newman plays the part of a ex-cop now Private Detective who retires after being shot by Hackman?s Daughter. The film opens with P.I. Harry Ross (Paul Newman) down in Mexico tracking down the minor daughter of Jack Ames (Gene Hackman), they wrestle and she gets Newman's gun and shoots him in the leg, so sets up the fact that Newman lives in Hackman?s guess house doing odd jobs for him. One job is Newman is handed an envelope and told to give it to female at an address, he goes there only to find a wounded man with a pistol, so starts the twisted mystery with more turns then a Californian Mountain Road. Its an excellent movie that should be seen by all. 4 stars.
Steven V

So many good actors and actresses, but the movie is a total "flop". The book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is more better than this movie.
Kyle S

In this faithful adaptation, Bella is played by Susan Sarandon, Edward by Paul Newman, and Jacob by Gene Hackman. This film is a masterpiece on all fronts, you really relate to Sarandon's character as she has to decide who she wants to be her boyfriend for an entire two hours.… More
In this faithful adaptation, Bella is played by Susan Sarandon, Edward by Paul Newman, and Jacob by Gene Hackman. This film is a masterpiece on all fronts, you really relate to Sarandon's character as she has to decide who she wants to be her boyfriend for an entire two hours. Don't miss this gem of a film, when else will you get to see Gene Hackman as a shirtless werewolf?