Duration : 2 hours 8 minutes Genre: Crime, Based on a true story
Rated: R (for adult situations / language, violence)
Mississippi Burning 1988 Hollywood Movie Review
A Political Thriller that shows the sorry side of America
“Made in 1988, a quarter of a century after the sensational murders of three civil rights workers in a small deep south township by Ku Klux Klan members that it recreates, Mississippi Burning is wearing well. Arguably the finest of Alan Parker’s feature films, it’s a vivid, passionate political thriller combining melodrama and semi-documentary realism to powerful effect.”
- Guardian Review
The realistic crime investigation movie is based on the true events where the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan’s allegedly killed three civil rights workers in 1964. The event happened in the race-inclined Southern Mississippi town. It also shot on the same locations in and around Mississippi.
The story starts when two FBI agents Andersen (Gene Hackman) and Ward (Willem Dafoe) are sent to Mississippi to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three activists. The southerner Andersen quickly mingles with the tight-lipped locals and tries uncover the truth. The younger but straightforward Ward approaches the case in a lawful way manner that irks the towns people. While the investigation is on, more and more events terrorizes the blacks to prevent them to testify. When Andersen somehow gets the info from the wife of Deputy Sheriff, who reveals the location of dead people’s body, the things turn in a nasty way. Finally, justice prevails when FBI men nab all the culprits of Mississippi - Mayor, Sheriff, and Deputy Sheriff.
The movie received a critical acclaim for its portrayal of true events in a realistic manner. The lead actors Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe enacted their roles with finesse. Though appearing briefly, Frances McDormand delivered one of the finest performances in her role of a self-deprecating ‘southerner.’
The movie contains several racist dialogues, and scenes. Some of the dialogues are taken from real people in a candid-camera style. And that’s really shocking. This political movie is also one of the finest crime thrillers of 80s.
So many scenes have been created to bring out the racist mentality of the small town folks and their narrow-minded way of life.
Alan Parker’s hard-hitting drama takes us to the troublesome southern town and unabashedly shows the sorry state of America during the 60s.
Dialogues between Andersen confronts the local authorities as well as his rivalry with Ward are exceptionally created.
The movie also received negative criticism for its ‘untruthful’ portrayal of several real people.
Expertly mixing gritty dialogues, acerbic scenes, heart-wrenching music and songs – Alan Parker takes us to the bloodstained part of the racist America to unfold the ugly truth.
By
Srini