Mississippi Burning

Orion Pictures Corporation | Release Date: January 27, 1989

8.5	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 106 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

Andys_ReviewsJul 25, 2013

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 itAlthough 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.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

bh92Jan 4, 2013

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 toThis 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.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

EssenceOfSugarJul 28, 2012

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 filmComprised 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.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

imthenoobNov 4, 2018

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 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.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

BroyaxMay 3, 2017

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 leursUn 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 nazis 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.… Expand