Why “Mississippi Burning” Is One Of The Best Films Ever Made
By Mark Taylor-Canfield
There are few films that will kick you in the shins, take your breath away and scare the heck out of you all at the same time. Alan Parker’s portrayal of racism and resistance in the Magnolia state is one of those movies.
Parker’s impressive previous directing credits included Pink Floyd: The Wall and Midnight Express.
Mississippi Burning is based on the FBI’s investigation of the murder of three young civil rights activists during the legendary “Freedom Summer” of 1964: James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner.
Two of the actors received well deserved Oscar nominations: Gene Hackman (Best Actor) and Frances McDormand (Best Supporting Actress). Willem DeFoe probably deserved a nomination for his gutsy portrayal of a “by the book” FBI agent who ultimately has a change of heart and ends up embracing violence and intimidation as a way to fight racist murderers.
Best lines:
Hackman — “Baseball is the only place where a black man can wave a stick at a white man and not start a riot.”
DeFoe — “Some things are worth dying for.”
Hackman — “Down here things are different. Here they believe some things are worth killing for.”