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Mississippi Burning [1989]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star in Mississippi Burning, a well-intentioned and largely successful civil-rights-era thriller. Using the real-life 1964 disappearance of three civil rights workers as its inspiration, the film tells the story of two FBI men (Hackman and Dafoe, entertainingly called "Hoover Boys" by the locals) who come in to try to solve the crime. Hackman is a former small-town Mississippi sheriff himself, while Dafoe is a by-the-numbers young hotshot. (Yes, there is some tension between the two.) The movie has an interesting fatalism, as all the FBI's best efforts simply incite more and more violence--the film's message, perhaps inadvertently, seems to be that vigilantism is the only real way to get things done. The brilliant Frances McDormand, here early in her career, is not given enough to do but still does it well enough to have racked up an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. (Hackman also received a nomination for Best Actor, and the film won an Academy Award for Cinematography). Mississippi Burning is ultimately unsatisfying--it is, after all, the story of white men coming in to rescue poor blacks--but it is beautifully shot and very watchable, featuring a terrific cast playing at the top of their games. --Ali Davis, Amazon.com


Don't pay any attention to the minority of nitpickers on Amazon.com. This movie is a Masterpiece!
Review date: 2008-03-31 Rating: 10 out of 10

Highly underrated movie that should have won oscars for everything from the direction to the screenplay to the cinematography, to the camera work, to the editing to the haunting and dramatic music score. This film has it all and it all comes off superbly well even if it is a little predictable in places.

This is also Gene Hackman at his stupendous best. A stunning performance that is arguably one of the best of all time--to be honest I like him here even more than I do Brando in the Godfather. He steals every single scene and he knows it, putting a riveting performance in its own right by Willem Defoe almost but not quite in the shade. Hackman's secret could well be that he never gives the impression that he's acting, but that this is for real. A huge part of the kudos for that, however, has to go to the genius of Alan Parker who very evidently went out of his way to create powerful realism, casting even non actors in character roles witn uncanny accuracy and aplomb. The proof of Parker's unsung ability to cast brilliantly is that there was not a single bad performance throughout--or even a single bad line. Everyone from the Sheriff to his despicable side kick, to that sidekick's dutiful but brobeaten wife--who is ironically though the key to solving the case--plays their respective parts virtually to perfection and that is a sure sign of a great director.

I would like to have seen Parker direct many more of this kind of film. Midnight Express was anothee one of his triumphs, though even that, as excellent as it was and hampered as it was by an unjustly low budget, doesn't compare to Mississippi Burning for sheer professional mastery, not to say attention to detail. It's obvious that Parker poured his heart and soul into this one and he deserved all the honours he got for it and many more. Don't miss it! I'm serious! It'll shock you to the core but in a way in which we all need to be shocked, even today in the post race hate era.


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Reviews


Hackmans finest
Review date: 2007-08-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of the finest films ever made. This supreme production really makes you feel like you are experiencing the oppresive heat of the deap south in your own living room. True they are somewhat liberal with presenting the facts of ther case, but this is a movie, not a documentary. Surely this must give the lie to those apologists of 1960's segregation (many of whom still occupy the higher echelons of American power).

This is undoubtably Hackmans finest performance. How on earth has such a great actor ended up in so many turkeys of films. D

Powerful
Review date: 2007-08-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

I won't go through the plot again, but there are two scenes in this film which are my favourite. The one when Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe exchange blows, and the character played by Dafoe decides to play it Hackman's way, and do whatever it takes to go after everyone involved. Then, the other scene when Hackman gives the deputy sheriff a really good beating in the barber shop. It has me cheering evey time.

I have watched this countless times and find it stirring every time. It is thrilling, powerful and emotive.

Compelling viewing
Review date: 2007-08-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

I saw this film at the Bromley odeon. It was a hot day, the cinema had no air conditioning, and it was like the deep south.
I don't know how many times I've seen the film since, but I've rented it, bought the video, bought the DVD and watched it on television - so a hell of lot.
Despite these repeated viewings it never loses its power and that comes from two things:
Firstly its subject matter and secondly from a powerhouse performance by Gene Hackman. Willam Dafoe, Frances McDormand and the rest of the cast are uniformly excellent - Hackman is better.
Loosely based on a true event in the 60's, it concerns the dissappearance of two human rights activists. The opening to the film is one of the most tense and memorable scences(and Hackman isn't even in it). Dafoe and Hackman do a variation on the good cop, bad cop routine with bad cop tactics being the final strategy!
Its a great film, which if you haven't seen, you should do so now.


Intense and Hot as the Burning Crosses
Review date: 2007-06-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a movie about racial hatred and bigotry ,in 1964,in the American Deep South after the murder of a coloured man and two civil rights activists. The cast is led by an impressive Gene Hackman and his co-star a very young William Defoe,as two FBI agents who travel to Mississippi to investigate. this is a very disturbing film and quite horrific in parts due to the fact that it is loosely based on a real event. The level of hatred portrayed was also disturbing because it happened less than forty years ago and in some places In the Deep American South such red neck feelings still apply. Although the film is very bleak, the end of the movie does give the viewer hope. The sight of white and black citizens standing together shoulder to shoulder at a funeral actually made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This film isn't an easy ride by any means but does move ,horrify and give hope in one breath.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Brad Dourif
Frances McDormand
Willem Dafoe
Gene Hackman
R. Lee Ermey

Creators:
Gene Hackman (Primary Contributor)
Willem Dafoe (Primary Contributor)
Peter Biziou (Cinematographer)
Gerry Hambling (Editor)
Frederick Zollo (Producer)
Robert F. Colesberry (Producer)
Chris Gerolmo (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070007176
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2001-09-17
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 121 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-01-27
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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