What has for eyes and can not see? Mississippi in the mid sixties? Or some type of mutant frog with cataracts? I’d like to say both really, but I am leaning slightly more favorably to the latter solution. As for the former solution on the other hand, watch this slice of history in filmic form, Directed by: Alan Parker; and Starring: Gene Hackman with Willem Dafoe. It was diagnosed in 1988, and then was sent to hospital 122 minutes later.Mississippi Burning
THE STORY:
1963, Mississippi, and three civil rights workers – two white, one black – are killed one dusky night whilst driving out of town. So who are you gonna call to sort this mess out, huh? No - the Ghostbusters haven’t been invented yet. Instead, two FBI agents, Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward (Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe), moseys’ on into town, and attempt to investigate what has been going on.
Ooops! Difficult thing for them to do - because with every move they make - a wall of resistance repels them from carrying out this task.
At the sheriffs office, they catch the sheriff out on a lie. At a dinner, when a colored kid called Hollis refuses to speak to them. And finally, by the whole town itself, who are not willing to commit themselves to any ‘wrong doings’.
Well, who can blame them when the KKK are involved, right? Especially when they beat up Hollis and dump him on main street, as well as attack the FBI agents, by burning an effigy in front of their hotel room.
Still, do you think that this will honestly deter Anderson and Ward one iota? No - me neither. Because with gusto and perseverance, bit by bit, they both manage to find out who the key figures are in this town, as well as locate the civil rights workers car in the swamp.
Unfortunately, though, their bodies are nowhere to be found.
Now it is at this particular juncture in their investigation together, both Anderson and Ward seem to go different ways in unearthing this mystery. Ward goes by the book, gathering statements in a very procedural manner, by confronting witnesses with a blatantly direct approach. Anderson on the other hand seems to charm his way through these proceedings, and connects with people on common ground - like the deputy sheriff's wife, Frances, for example - who confides in him over time.
Meanwhile, while all as this is going on, the KKK’s decide to fight back, interrogating a number of Negro's on numerous instances, leaving these unfortunate souls battered and bruised, whilst there homes are burning down around them.
But remember, Ward and Anderson aren't going to take this lying down, oh sir-re. In fact, it prompts them to work together again, and fight fire with fire. Such as: Attempting to send a couple of KKK members to trial, and recovering the civil-rights workers bodies sometime after. Granted, these two scenarios don't really pan out in the way that they hoped they would - the KKK members get off Scott Free - plus Frances, who helped Ward and Anderson find the civil-rights workers bodies, gets beaten up because her involvement with them. Nevertheless, this just makes them madder to do the unthinkable.
Please note, what next transpires is the stuff of legend. Black Agents piece together the score - the KKK get played like a whore - systems of power dissolve with a sneer - and the people of Mississippi will never know fear.
A beginning.
THE REVIEW:
Do you know what? 'Mississippi Burning' is just one of those movies that make’s you think. You can’t help it, even if you try to resist, its just one of those things that happens with this type of 'message movie'. Obviously, the message in this flick is a simple one really – racism, and the causes of racism – and tackles this subject in a straight forward and direct fashion. Well? Kind of. This story is a based on a true life incident you see, and has been massaged to fit the framework of two diametrically opposed FBI agents, Anderson and Ward, who are dealing with this very imposing subject matter.
However, who of you out there in cyberland can say that they have not felt disdain for a particulate race or creed at one point in their life? Not many I’m sure. And that is exactly what this film makes you think about when you watch it. OK, so racism is a part of life. But why is that, huh? Hatred? Greed? Bigotry? Fear? Or something else all together? According to this film, it is a combination of all five solutions all in all.
Fair enough, on a certain level, I have to agree with this statement, because it does present a very good argument, and shows you blatantly what one particular race – the colored race – had to deal with during mid-sixties in America’s ‘south’. Whilst, on another level, the slant could be perceived as slightly too liberal in leaning, making the antagonist motives appear alien and crude.
Now the main stars of this film, Gene and Willem, as well as the director, Alan Parker, take this concept to an all new level, and are able to capture the essence of both sides of the argument, whilst staying consistently liberal all the way through. Hatred is bad. Greed is bad. Bigotry is bad. And Fear is bad. So why can’t people be good? Duly noted, some people are all in all, just like this film is. A classic piece of cinema, full of color, action, excitement, suspense, and most of all, a though provoking ‘message movie’ that is as pure as anything I have ever seen.
Here, check out some of these filmic-facts to see what I mean by this: (1) According to director, Alan Parker, some of the 'television interviews' carried out by the while people of Mississippi were ad-libbed, based on their own feelings about the real life event. (2) Gene was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in 'The Silence of the Lambs' [click here for review], plus Mike in 'the Brady Bunch'. (3) The story was inspired by the murder of voting rights activists, J. E. Chaney, Mickey Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. (4) Willem was the first choice to play the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman film. (5) The movie was very controversial when it was first released. Although it is fictional in places, the story was clearly based on an actual case, and certain people felt that certain facts from the real-life case were left out or perverted. (6) Don Johnson wanted Willems Dafoes role, and even campaigned for it. (7) Frances McDormand once lived in the same apartment with Joel and Ethan Coen, Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel and Holly Hunter (8) Gene Hackman is a noted liberal, and prefers roles which suits his own leanings. (9) Both Gene and Willem played comic book villains during their careers. Lex Luthor for Gene. And the Green Goblin for Willem. (10) Whilst filming the rednecks-vs-reporters scenes, situated on a bridge over a river, two extras were nearly killed by a train, when they accidentally ventured from the holding area onto a tall concrete-arch on the bridge. (11) Quite a few of the extras participating in Clayton Townley's speech scene, were actual members of the Klu Klux Klan. And (12) Alan Parker has had several collections of film industry-related cartoons published.
Ooops! Sorry, sometimes I get a little carried away with myself when I am on a trivia splurge. Anyway, I think that I have said enough about 'Mississippi Burning', huh? The story is a great one. The cast is inspired. The direction is spot on. And at the end of the day the overall package makes you think - racism - its a bloody waste of energy - correct?
THE RATING: A
Now the main stars of this film, Gene and Willem, as well as the director, Alan Parker, take this concept to an all new level, and are able to capture the essence of both sides of the argument, whilst staying consistently liberal all the way through. Hatred is bad. Greed is bad. Bigotry is bad. And Fear is bad. So why can’t people be good? Duly noted, some people are all in all, just like this film is. A classic piece of cinema, full of color, action, excitement, suspense, and most of all, a though provoking ‘message movie’ that is as pure as anything I have ever seen.
Here, check out some of these filmic-facts to see what I mean by this: (1) According to director, Alan Parker, some of the 'television interviews' carried out by the while people of Mississippi were ad-libbed, based on their own feelings about the real life event. (2) Gene was the first choice to play Hannibal Lector in 'The Silence of the Lambs' [click here for review], plus Mike in 'the Brady Bunch'. (3) The story was inspired by the murder of voting rights activists, J. E. Chaney, Mickey Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. (4) Willem was the first choice to play the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman film. (5) The movie was very controversial when it was first released. Although it is fictional in places, the story was clearly based on an actual case, and certain people felt that certain facts from the real-life case were left out or perverted. (6) Don Johnson wanted Willems Dafoes role, and even campaigned for it. (7) Frances McDormand once lived in the same apartment with Joel and Ethan Coen, Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel and Holly Hunter (8) Gene Hackman is a noted liberal, and prefers roles which suits his own leanings. (9) Both Gene and Willem played comic book villains during their careers. Lex Luthor for Gene. And the Green Goblin for Willem. (10) Whilst filming the rednecks-vs-reporters scenes, situated on a bridge over a river, two extras were nearly killed by a train, when they accidentally ventured from the holding area onto a tall concrete-arch on the bridge. (11) Quite a few of the extras participating in Clayton Townley's speech scene, were actual members of the Klu Klux Klan. And (12) Alan Parker has had several collections of film industry-related cartoons published.
Ooops! Sorry, sometimes I get a little carried away with myself when I am on a trivia splurge. Anyway, I think that I have said enough about 'Mississippi Burning', huh? The story is a great one. The cast is inspired. The direction is spot on. And at the end of the day the overall package makes you think - racism - its a bloody waste of energy - correct?
THE RATING: A
