Movie : Mississippi Burning

Three young men are travelling on a deserted country road at night. They are soon being followed by three other vehicles. We get an eerie feeling. It starts to get even more tense as one of the cars starts to ram the young men’s car. They veer off onto a dirt road still being followed. They are getting scared. One of the trailing vehicles turns on a flashing red light. The young men pull over. Men get out of the trailing cars all carrying flashlights. They approach the car, shining their light in the faces of the scared young men. Racial slurs are spoken, a gun is pointed, a trigger pulled. Two FBI agents, one from the north the other from the south are assigned to find the three missing civil rights workers. Welcome to Mississippi 1964.

Allan Parker takes us back into this time and place and he doesn’t censor himself on the history of the times. You really feel you’re there. It’s uncomfortable and it’s scary. No sugar coating. He really does do a good job with this. Inspired by real events. He takes us along on the search for the missing civil rights workers and the shit storm that was happening down there.

 

A film like this doesn’t work if you don’t get the right actors to tell this story. Parker hits the jackpot with his cast. From top to bottom there are no weak spots. The local KKK are played with 100% commitment with Michael Rooker and Brad Dorif leading the way. Truth-full and real. Francis McDormand absolutely nails her role.

The two leads, Willem Dafoe and Gene Hackman as the FBI agents have a natural chemistry. Working off of each other and given the circumstances they don’t make a false move. CB likes and respects the body of work both of these actors have. Hackman in my opinion is one of the best ever. Always bring a truthfulness to everything he does. He continues that high level in this film.

Some real shit going on in this powerful film. A history lesson brought to life that moved me. It plays like a documentary. It’s a highly uncensored, tough film told with respect by Parker. He also uses music to enhance the experience.

(CB didn’t do this take because of the current situation in America. It’s been in the bag for a few months and it was next. Racism and police brutality has no place in my life. We all belong to the “Human Bean” tribe (Credit to Roald Dahl for the term). Music, sports, community involvement etc bring us together to have common ground. Enough of me. I just fell off the soapbox and bumped my bean. Take care and spread some of that good shit around. Later folks)

“The rest of America don’t mean a damn thing. You in Mississippi now”