Paramount Pictures' "TWILIGHT," starring Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Stockard Channing, Reese Witherspoon, Giancarlo Esposito and James Garner, paints a portrait of present-day Los Angeles infused with blackmail, murder, sexuality, moral excess and the memorable characters that cloud its landscape. The Cinehaus production is directed by Robert Benton, produced by Arlene Donovan and Scott Rudin and written by Robert Benton & Richard Russo. Michael Hausman serves as executive producer. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.

In this witty and suspenseful drama, Harry Ross (Paul Newman), a retired shopworn Los Angeles private investigator, agrees to help long-time friends, former screen legend Jack Ames (Gene Hackman) and his wife Catherine (Susan Sarandon), with a favor and rapidly becomes embroiled in the center of a dangerous and complex murder mystery.

"TWILIGHT" reunites Academy Award™ winner Paul Newman with director/screenwriter Robert Benton, producers Arlene Donovan and Scott Rudin, executive producer Michael Hausman and co-screenwriter Richard Russo with whom he previously worked on "Nobody's Fool."

"I liked working with Richard Russo during the making of 'Nobody's Fool,' and mentioned if he got the urge to write a screenplay, I'd like to collaborate," says Benton. "Richard told me he wanted to do a private eye movie. In fact, I had shot a movie here about twenty years ago called 'The Late Show' with Art Carney and Lily Tomlin and it had been a particularly enjoyable experience for me. We knew right away we wanted to write for Paul."

Still, Benton continues to be fascinated by detective stories. "The private eye is kind of a romantic urban hero. He is caught between cynicism and idealism and by tradition, he's a complicated figure and that has always interested me.

"I have come to realize that when I start writing a picture, I'm going to spend two years or more with these people, beginning with the writing, going through directing and editing -- and I'd better love these people. That's really my criterion for characters and it seems to me the private eye form offers you such a wide spectrum of society, from the very wealthy to the sleaziest low-rent characters you can find. And those are always interesting characters to write about," says Benton.

"The real story of the movie is the unraveling of people's lives...how rich and complicated life gets. It's so beautiful here (in Los Angeles) and these are very extraordinary, beautiful people. Their sense of privilege, beauty, wealth and intelligence is such a part of their lives that they take it for granted. It's a gift given to them...it's become like breathing for them. It must be deeply agonizing when you come to the end of the run after things have always gone right for you," notes Benton. "Within this movie there are all kinds of layers of love stories and things that happen in a mystery. And I think the mystery unfolds out of character in this, not from a set of traditional clues," he adds.

Newman concurs with Benton. "The film is nostalgic and bittersweet. It's really about gains and losses ...what people gain in terms of their own insight. What they begin to lose to other people in terms of their own personality. Things don't turn out the way you want them to or the way the main characters hope that it will turn out. There's an enigma about the whole film. The mystery is really the people and the detective part is a springboard for that."

With respect to the casting, Benton comments "this is as good a cast as I can imagine ever being. Paul is a great actor, lots of fun to work with and one of the best human beings I have ever met. Gene is just a sensational actor and with Susan, it's the same, she is magnificent. And then there is James Garner, Stockard Channing, Reese Witherspoon...it's a thrilling process watching these actors work."

Regarding Newman's character, "I think Harry is an idealist. At the beginning of this movie, he's a burned-out case-both as a cop and as a private detective. He's been through a series of tragedies, he's been an alcoholic, but there is a kind of need in him to find the truth. He's somebody who can be trusted and depended on. And he loves these people and they love him, though it's a complicated kind of love."

As for the characteristics that he found entertaining about Harry, Newman remarks "he's contemplative when it seems appropriate, he's emotionally accessible, has a great sense of humor and doesn't take himself too seriously. In the last couple of movies I have made the character come to me."

Academy Award™ winner Gene Hackman agrees, "Paul and I have talked about how much fun it is to do a film like this because it really has to do with acting...it's a conversation between two people."

With regard to the other starring roles, Benton explains "it's a very complicated love between Catherine (Susan Sarandon) and Jack (Gene Hackman). Even though there are all kinds of betrayals within the marriage, they love each other ferociously. I love Catherine as a character because she's very good and very bad and very mysterious and you never quite put your finger on what she is. And I love Susan's interpretation of this character, she's taken her in directions I never thought." As for Hackman, "he is one of the very best of American actors. I obviously owe him a great debt of gratitude dating back to 'Bonnie and Clyde.' Jack is the most complicated part, aside from Harry in the whole film," he adds.

Says Hackman, "it's an interesting picture in that respect of trying to play what people's preconceived notions of what actors are. I think Jack is a guy we'd all like to be, if we could get away with it. But, I also thought about the fact that he does know approximately the day of his death and that it must be a very strange way to live what's remaining of your days."

And how did Reese Witherspoon enjoy playing opposite such stars as Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon and Gene Hackman in her role as Mel, the Ames alienated teen-age daughter. "To be downright honest, I'm nervous as hell," says the pretty young actress with a big smile. "Even though this is my twelfth film, it's really been overwhelming. But they've all been really nice, open and very helpful to me. They make me feel accepted and that it's okay to be here."

The other starring roles were played by award-winning actors Stockard Channing (Oscar® nominated for "Six Degrees of Separation") as Verna, Harry's former paramour and a Los Angeles police lieutenant; Giancarlo Esposito (Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," "Malcolm X") as Reuben, a limo driver who aspires to be Harry's full-time partner and James Garner (Oscar® nominated for "Murphy's Romance" and Emmy award winner for "The Rockford Files") as Raymond Hope, an old-time "fixer" for the Ames family.