X
- 1989
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 2 h 8 m
- 1989
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 2 h 8 m
Summary A fictionalized version of the murders of three civil rights activists on June 21, 1964 in Mississippi. The FBI comes in to solve the case and succeeds only after using unethical and illegal means. (MGM)
Directed By: Alan Parker
Written By: Chris Gerolmo
- 1989
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 2 h 8 m
- 1989
- R
- Orion Pictures
- 2 h 8 m
Mississippi Burning
65
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary A fictionalized version of the murders of three civil rights activists on June 21, 1964 in Mississippi. The FBI comes in to solve the case and succeeds only after using unethical and illegal means. (MGM)
Directed By: Alan Parker
Written By: Chris Gerolmo
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
65
73% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
18% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 11 Critic Reviews
65
73% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
18% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
A powerful drama about the murder of three civil-rights workers in the South. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe are FBI men investigating. A legitimate Oscar contender. [6 Jan 1989, p.5D]
Mississippi Burning speeds down the complicated, painful path of civil rights in search of a good thriller. Surprisingly, it finds it
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 106 User Ratings
8.4
89% Positive
94 Ratings
94 Ratings
7% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
5% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 106 User Ratings
8.4
89% Positive
94 Ratings
94 Ratings
7% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
5% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
This film is a classic. It is truly gripping with the detectives playing two sensational performances. In particular, the violent scene at the barbers shop is excellent. The film also plays with all the emotions and sometimes is painful to watch as we witness the cruelty and suffering caused by the KKK in Mississippi.
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Parker, a director of breadth, not depth, never supplies the big answers, but he does powerfully depict the climate of the Confederacy in the "Freedom Summer" of 1964.
Though its credibility is undermined by a fanciful ending, Mississippi Burning captures much of the truth in its telling of the impact of a 1964 FBI probe into the murders of three civil rights workers.
Parker recreates the hate-and-fear-filled atmosphere in that small Southern town with broad brush strokes. But in the end, all of his spectacular fires send out a lot more heat than light. [13 Jan 1989, p.E1]
Mississippi Burning is visually splendid. Director Parker and his crew have created a film that is unquestionably watchable. As a history lesson, however, it's laughable.
The glorification of the FBI, the obfuscation about Jim Crow laws, and the absurd melodramatics may all have been well-intentioned, but the understanding about the past and the present of racism that emerges is depressingly thin.
A fantastic, satisfying take on the conflict meeting the Civil Rights Movement in the south. It is certainly hard to watch at some points; this film does not hold back, and it illustrates the irrational hatred against black Americans in a disturbing (but accurate) manner, to the point where the viewer feels as helpless as the innocent victims. The dynamic between Dafoe and Hackman's characters is genius, and surprisingly, there are many funny moments throughout the film to lighten the mood. Admittedly the film gets a bit slow in the middle, but it's all worth it to see the Klansmen get their comeuppance in the end. All in all, this is a compelling film, with a strong message that all americans should keep in mind today.
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Although based on real events, the filmmakers go to great lengths to make it clear that this is a work of fiction. As such it works very well; it is a very powerful drama that puts the fight for civil rights to the fore. I must say I found it quite thought provoking, very well made and really well shot. The performances were all excellent with (for me), Gene Hackman standing out; although I thought Willem Dafoe was very good and Brad Dourif was excellent as the loathsome Deputy Pell. I also have to mention a couple of small roles; it was nice to see both Stephen Tobolowsky as Clayton Townley and R. Lee Ermey as Mayor Tilman; I know they didn’t have an awful lot to do, but they were both quality. Over all, an interesting drama that kept me interested all the way through a definite ‘must’ for any cinephile.
SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
My score: 8.7/10.
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Comprised mostly of racial abuse and interrogations, this portrayal of a certain historical event is flawed because it is all jumbled together, thinly veiled as a historical masterpiece. The difficulty of using these racial themes within film is the accuracy that it is shown in order to be of certain historical value. It is one thing that you use an event from history and go slightly off track to improve it, it is another thing that you take an event from history and change it around into a complete mess that disrupts the perhaps flawless construction of history. Of course, this film is of little entertainment value, not because of the violent, horrific aspects, but because of the intensity. It wasn't all doom and gloom in the 1960's, but I suppose you could expect that from something titled 'Mississippi Burning'. At least the ending provided something a little more cheerful, despite the fact many people had been killed in the process.
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Un portrait sans concession et une peinture très âpre du Mississippi des années 60, un état anciennement confédéré qui n'a jamais apprécié la politique du vivre ensemble nordiste décrétée par des angélistes béats, la tête dans le cul de leurs bureaux de fonctionnaires à Washington.
Certes, inspirée d'évènements véridiques, cette histoire montre que nos chamants pékors du sud ont franchement mordu la ligne jaune et bien entendu aucun meurtre ne saurait justifier la défense de leur politique ségrégationniste.
Mais tout de même, le film n'y va pas par quatre chemins et démontre aussi avec à-propos que la violence appelle la violence, y compris chez ces **** refoulés du FBI qui utilisent des méthodes d'investigation bien éloignées de toute légalité passée, enterrée ou à venir.
Bien que les acteurs ne soient nullement en cause, le duo du gentil et du méchant agent spécial, le bisounours et la brute, finit par être lourd et très répétitif, tandis que le film se répand par ailleurs dans un pathos généralisé beaucoup trop appuyé, en plus de diaboliser aveuglément sans chercher à faire la part des choses.
Enfin, le film est clairement et conséquemment de ses défauts sus-mentionnés trop long et souvent barbant dans sa démonstration poussive ressassée ad nauseam comme un vieux malade d'Alzheimer.
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The director makes it a point to say that this is a fiction, despite being based on a real-life event, and I couldn't agree more. It's so annoyingly over dramatized that it fails to keep you even remotely interested in it. And often times, The story is dropped in order to show off some weak action scene, I just don't get it. And what's even more insulting is that the 3 murdered men, who this film is based on, are barely mentioned at all in this film. Now that is insulting.
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 7 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 4 Nominations
National Board of Review, USA
• 5 Wins & 5 Nominations
