Mississippi Burning

For many people, this is probably an unknown film, but I’m damn glad I got to see it, as it's truly a cinematic treat. The theme itself grabbed my attention—there aren’t many films dealing with racial intolerance and the Ku Klux Klan in the southern US in the last century, so as a viewer, I appreciated the opportunity to broaden my understanding of the issue. Looking at Alan Parker’s filmography now, I’m not at all surprised that nearly all of his films have high ratings, as he is a real master. The film, in its overall execution and especially its approach, reminded me of films by Stone. Mississippi Burning boasts an excellently paced story based on true events. The lead duo was fantastic; Hackman’s acting skills are undeniable, and what he delivered here is unparalleled. His character was probably the best thing the film offered. Even the film’s atmosphere was chilling, and the dialogue between Hackman and Rooker was built up to a peak. I think I should start focusing on older films because there are so many, and now I know that some of them are definitely worth watching. Mississippi Burning is living proof of that, and I give it 91%. (13/04/2017)

Mississippi Burning is not only a high-quality crime drama, but also a political film with a clearly defined opinion, and ultimately, an artistic portrayal of a real case that stirred public opinion in the United States when three activists against racial segregation were murdered. The film is one of Hollywood's most significant contributions to the pressing issue of racism. There are plenty of crime stories, but films with uncompromising political stances are far less common. It is not a typical genre film, but rather an appeal against the influence of the Ku Klux Klan and a critique of social conservatism and Southern values. The film clearly aimed to bring back and reignite strong themes that resonated in American society in the 1960s. From the performances of the involved major actors, I get the impression that Hackman, Dafoe, and McDormand didn't approach their roles as just a regular business transaction, but that they also injected their own convictions into their performances. Overall impression: 95%. (04/02/2016)

This was an unexpected surprise for me. I wasn't familiar with this film, but it's a very powerful drama about racism in America where you really realize how intense and vile the intolerance was, and maybe still is. The film has great acting performances, but above all, it is excellently filmed and handled in every aspect. An excellent experience! (02/03/2018)

The film essentially relies only on the interesting period in which it takes place, with the issues of racial segregation, harassment, and oppression of minorities. Alan Parker focuses primarily on the driving force behind this conflict: the Ku Klux Klan and its representatives. Some scenes are impressive, while others are unnecessarily drawn out. If you're expecting Gene Hackman to be his typical tough guy, you will be disappointed. He has a few such scenes, but otherwise, he is more like a witty old bachelor with a lot of sly remarks. The atmosphere of the small town and the fact that something is happening is solid, and fortunately, they didn't completely close the doors to brutality, so there is definitely something to watch, without embellishments or tricks. But it's not really worth watching a second time, the screenplay is simple and uncomfortably straightforward. (07/10/2007)

An undistorted, ultimately very realistic, and therefore rather unpleasant look at the segregationist politics of the American South in the 1960s. I don't appreciate Parker's "stark" realism, but the other levels of the story, where we can follow the professional and indeed moral transformation of Dafoe's character, and the brilliantly rendered atmosphere of a highly segregated and inaccessible community, for some time beyond the reach even of the federal agents themselves. The great soundtrack and acting performances need no further comment. (02/08/2012)