To its credit, Clint Eastwood's film version of the bestseller "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" does include all the quirks, subplots and minor characters that usually get lost in the translation from printed page to the silver screen.

Unfortunately, Eastwood and scripter John Lee Hancock have included so many many oddball characters and minor story details that they miss some of the book's more salient points. The film — as well as his past couple of directorial efforts — also shows how badly he could use an editor or an outside producer.

For example, his cast includes the Lady Chablis, a real-life, cross-dressing performer who is briefly featured in the novel. But for his film, Eastwood allows the chanteuse to dominate too many scenes with a showy performance that overshadows the actual leads, John Cusack and Kevin Spacey.

Cusack stars as John Kelso, a New York writer working for Town and Country magazine and an aspiring novelist, who is sent to Savannah, Ga. to report on the lavish annual Christmas party put on by Jim Williams (Spacey), a prominent art collector.

But just hours after the party, Williams is arrested for shooting Billy Hanson (Jude Law), his live-in lover, who had a prior history of violent, irrational behavior.

Intrigued by the case, John continues his research, now under the auspices of writing a book, and discovers some of the more eye-opening, after-hours activities in the seemingly conservative community. He's also recruited to be part of the defense team, which includes smarter-than-he-looks attorney Sonny Seiler (Jack Thompson).

And John also begins romancing Mandy Nichols (Alison Eastwood), a local cabaret singer who helps him understand the city's complex social stucture.

There's a lot more going on to the story than just that, but the director never really seems to get a grip on the main storyline. Also, some scenes go on forever (particularly when the Lady Chablis is on screen), while other, more important ones end abruptly.

And at more than 2 1/2 hours, you'd think they could get in more character development on the leads. The romantic subplot between John and Mandy isn't completely convincing, while there's nothing more about Williams revealed than just his sexual preference.

Admittedly, Cusack and Spacey do their best with their underwritten roles, as does Thompson, an Australian actor who actually speaks with a Southern accent that's better than that of most of his U.S. counterparts. But they're better than the material.

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is rated R for profanity, vulgar sex talk and lewd dancing (all courtesy of the Lady Chablis, naturally) and violence.