Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star inMississippi Burning, a well-intentioned and largely ... more
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 ...
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Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe star inMississippi Burning, a well-intentioned and largely ... more
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 ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Mississippi in 1964 is ready to burn. Three young Civil Rights workers, James Chaney, ... more
Andre Goodman and Mickey Schwerner, are murdered on their way back home after trying to help blacks register to vote. The bodies disappear. The smoldering embers of r...
Prepare to be shaken and moved as three young men in the 1960s meet their violent and ... more
untimely deaths on a dark Mississippi highway in this powerful and poignant drama. Based on the real-life murder investigation of three civil rights activists and sta...
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Three young civil rights activists are murdered in cold blood by the Ku Klux Klan and lie ... more
buried in a Mississippi swamp. Two FBI agents are on the killers' trail. A trail which threatens to tear a community of hatred and oppression to pieces, and blow America apart. Based on a true story from the 1960's.
A well-intentioned and largely successful civil rights-era thriller,Mississippi ... more
Burninguses the real-life 1964 disappearance of three civil rights workers as its inspiration. The film tells the story of two FBI men (Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe, entertainingly called "Hoover Boys" by the locals) who come in to try to solve the crime. Hackman is a former Mississippi small-town sheriff himself, while Dafoe is a by-the-numbers young hotshot. Yes, there is some tension between the two. The film has an interesting fatalism, as all the FBI's best efforts incite more and more violence which becomes disturbing--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). The storyline ofMississippi Burningis ultimately unsatisfying--it is after all the story of white men coming in to rescue poor blacks--but it is beautifully shot, very watchable, and features a terrific cast playing at the top of their games.--Ali Davis, Amazon.com
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Production Year: 2002 - Drama - Director: Michael Caton-Jones - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, James Franco, Eliza Dushku, William Forsythe, George Dzundza, Patti Lupone
Drama - Director: Kevin Smith - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Biggs, Matt Damon
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Good plot with background story. Good action Disadvantages: Can be patchy in places. Slight overdoing on some scenes.
Mississippi Burning 'On Trial'
Cast
Anderson Gene Hackman
Ward Willem Dafoe
Mrs. Pell Frances McDormand
Dep. Pell Brad Dourif
Mayor Tilman R. Lee Ermey
Sheriff Stuckey Gailard Sartain
Clayton Townley Stephen Tobolowsky
It seems almost appropriate that this film is re-released now, with many modern racial issues firmly embedded on people's minds. The death ... ...up her seat to a white man on a bus. This event triggered the blacks to speak out in their non-violent protests against the oppressive rule of the whites. Another more recent event is the murder of the black teenager Anthony Walker. With the two murderers behind bars for over 40 years between them, it seems like a real wake-up call for the racists around the world. The other major event is of course Hurricane Katrina, which battered the south coast ... more
Mississippi Burning 'On Trial'
Cast Anderson Gene Hackman Ward Willem Dafoe Mrs. Pell Frances McDormand Dep. Pell Brad Dourif Mayor Tilman R. Lee Ermey Sheriff Stuckey Gailard Sartain Clayton Townley Stephen Tobolowsky
It seems almost appropriate that this film is re-released now, with many modern racial issues firmly embedded on people's minds. The death of Rosa Parks, who in December 1955, refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. This event triggered the blacks to speak out in their non-violent protests against the oppressive rule of the whites. Another more recent event is the murder of the black teenager Anthony Walker. With the two murderers behind bars for over 40 years between them, it seems like a real wake-up call for the racists around the world. The other major event is of course Hurricane Katrina, which battered the south coast of America, and left the city of New Orleans in a state of chaos. But with the black population feeling they have been abandoned, is the USA still as racist as it was 50 years ago?
The film itself is not based on one sole event, but the underlying message is painfully clear, White man is better than Black man. If any other film was made like this, it would cause uproar, but as the film is already well-known, it has a powerful influence on the ongoing racial events. Some say that the blacks have been portrayed as a frail bunch of misfits who can only run and scream. This is true only in that the blacks are shown in this way. The tough resilience and powerful determination of the blacks to achieve peace is obvious throughout history. Some white people also commented the whites were played out as a bunch of cruel-hearted murderers. Unfortunately for them, this is also true. But was it all of the white people who were so racist, or was it just one extremist cult?
The Ku Klux Klan played a major part in the racial abusing and killing of the blacks in 50's America. But were they really that bad? According to a KKK document, the society is both legal and democratic. But in this film, they are portrayed with a frightening accuracy. The so-called White Knights are considered to be the liberator of America. The hero's of the wars. The saviours of the race. The idea of White vs. Black is an idea of Good vs. Evil. This idea was taken up by the White Knights of the KKK.
In the film, we see the KKK attacking a black congregation. They silently line up with clubs, waiting for the blacks to come out. The blacks are shown as feeble people who run at the first sign of danger. The camera then pans round to see a KKK man standing over a praying boy. The masked man then launches a flurry of kicks at the praying boy.
Before you think that the film is all blood and gore, this is not the case. The film generally focuses on two FBI agents, Anderson & Ward, trying to track down the bodies and the killers of three civil rights workers. This is a similar storyline to the earlier 1965 film 'Three Lives for Mississippi', which indicated that these killings sparked a lot of interest. From the start, the film really hooks the audience, with expert camera work and epic use and control of music and sound.
The film begins with a scene showing two water fountains, one clean and new one for the whites, and one old and decrepit 'coloured' fountain. The camera does not move, and in the scene, a white and a black boy both come into the scene and drink from the different fountains. The pipe down the middle creates a visible division, but both fountains us the same water! The music being played is a women singing gospel music, which was a common theme during the dark times in America. In brief, the scene was no other purpose than to give the viewers something to chew on.
The second scene is of a church in flames. Again, the still camera focuses on the church. This Audience Position gives them the time to take in the scene. There nothing else in this shot. No firemen. No help. No-one. The positioning of the camera is left for the picture to literally 'burn' onto peoples mind.
The film, however, is a gripping thriller when the action gets going. The lighting and music gives the audience a feeling of sorrow one minute, and hate the next. The first piece of action is the classic 'car chase' scene. Three men, two white and one black, are driving down a road. The lighting effects and camera work give a sinister edge to the air. The car driving down the road will the still camera give the impression that something bad is about to happen. The entrance of new cars onto the road really gets the film going. Soon, the scene ends up as an off-road car chase, ending with a horrible and brutal murder.
The murder sets the ball rolling off into the land of the thriller, and away from the frame of truth. The attacks don't stop there. Later on in the film, a Black congregation is attacked by a group of KKK men. The short sharp flicking of scenes from attack to attack gives the audience a wide flavour of the content of the scene, which differs greatly from the techniques used in the first few scenes. This is combined with the classic gospel music, which makes the scene seem more hard-hitting. The camera then focuses in on one boy being attacked by a KKK 'knight'. The music has stopped for the audience to fully appreciate the attack. The aggression of the scene gives more hatred for the whites and more sympathy for the blacks.
There is action dotted throughout the film, with the white men getting the punishment they deserve. A happy ending? Not for most.
Civil rights workers - James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner
Advantages: Powerful portrayal of the harm that racism can do Disadvantages: A lot of violence
...and one black, working in Mississippi become concerned when they realise that they are being followed. They stop, thinking it is the police, and are brutally murdered. Some time later, once their disappearance has been noticed, the FBI are called in to investigate. Enter Ward and Anderson, two agents with very different ways of working.
The community is clearly unconcerned that the activists may have been murdered and refuse to cooperate with the ... ...the FBI's work. Slowly, the pair begin to realise that there is something much more seriously wrong than just the three missing activists. Can they find out who is responsible or will the Ku Klux Klan-ridden community come out on top?
The actors/characters
Gene Hackman, who plays Anderson, is by far and away the highlight of this film. Working to a boss much younger than him, he resents his junior role and so working relations do not go well to ...
sunmeilan 27.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Mississippi Burning (DVD)
Advantages: gritty, realistic and based on true events Disadvantages: maybe showing it age now.
...court trials ensued. Mississippi Burning tells the story of two FBI agents sent into a fictional county to investigate the disappearance of the three activists. As the movie unfolds, the characters are defined and the true story of what happened that night is revealed, it is shocking to see just how twisted human nature can be. It is amazing to see a nation finally sit up and take notice of the cruel injustices that were taking place against an entire ... ...had criticism from Civil Rights Activists and the families of the three men for distorting historical facts and downplaying the work of the Civil Rights movement in working towards eradicating segregation, in the politically incorrect society into which it was released, it helped to awaken the U.S.A and the rest of the world to the murderous activities happening across the country. I think that this film is superior to similar films (such as Malcom ...
lewisskinner 20.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mississippi Burning (DVD)
Advantages: Quality story and cast Disadvantages: violent at times
...a very emotive film called Mississippi Burning. It is loosely based on a true story, about the murder of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964.
Mississippi Burning follows the investigation of two FBI agents, Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman). They are trying to find out what happened to missing civil rights workers, but ended up facing a conspiracy within the Southern town where there is segregation of white ... ...this film, as it has some violent scenes in it. The characters are well portrayed and it is difficult to believe that this type of situation could ever happen in real life. Alan Parker is known for tackling emotive stories and he has done a brilliant job with Mississippi Burning. ...
mozzie76 17.09.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Mississippi Burning (DVD)
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Advantages: Chris O'Donnell, good story Disadvantages: Ultimately not that exciting
very distressing for those who are squeamish, and even for some of those that are not. There is also the issue of racism, especially with the Ku Klux Klan making an entrance. For those who don't know what the Ku Klux Klan is, it is a 'white' organisation that has the aim of ridding society of its blights - ie anyone who is not Caucasian. The crime took place in the sixties in Mississippi, a state prone to racism, and it could be very distressing for some. However, it is nothing compared to films like MississippiBurning (that also starred Gene Hackman), that I think measures up favourably to this film.
There is just one extra with this DVD - the original theatrical trailer. As the film was made back in 1996, this is perhaps not surprising.
This is a reasonable film that, at nearly two hours, is only just a bit too long, and I don ...
Three young civil rights activists are murdered in cold blood by the Ku Klux Klan and lie buried in a Mississippi swamp. Two FBI agents are on the killers' trail. A trail which threatens to tear a community of hatred and oppression to pieces, and blow America apart. Based on a true story from the 1960's.
Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Hearing Impaired Language
English, German
Technical information
Special Features
Original Theatrical Trailer, Interactive Menus Screens, Chapter Selections, Audio Commentary By Alan Parker
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital Surround
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital Surround English French German Spanish
Professional reviews
Review
"...Insistent....MISSISSIPPI BURNING is first-rate." (New York Times, p.C12, 09/12/1988)
Included in The New York Times "10 BEST FILMS OF 1988" (New York Times, p.II, 9, 25/12/1988)
"...An almost visionary intensity..." (Sight and Sound, p.131, 01/03/1989)
DVD Description
In 1964, when three civil-rights workers, two white and one black, mysteriously disappear while driving through Mississippi, two FBI agents, Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Anderson (Gene Hackman), are sent in to investigate. While Ward is young and by the book, Anderson is a seasoned southerner comfortable with the Byzantine (and, to Ward, morally ambiguous) ways of his region. Together they sift through a variety of leads and come up empty-handed--until the town sheriff's wife (Frances McDormand) steps forward and reveals some surprising information. In order to solve the case, the two contrasting agents must not only overcome the hostility of the local authorities and the black community but contend with their own differences as well. A fictionalized account of one of the landmarks in the civil-rights movement, MISSISSIPPI BURNING is a swift and powerful film. Director Alan Parker, continuing his investigation of human cruelty (begun explosively in his harrowing 1978 film MIDNIGHT EXPRESS), crafts a historically poignant film that fingers the monstrosities of a virulent strain of racial intolerance in America. Dafoe and Hackman are convincing as they investigate the disappearance of the civil-rights workers and unravel the grisly web of obfuscation around a scandalous, cancerous truth very near the heart of a nation.
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