Mississippi Burning Blu-ray Review

5 Star 1988’s best film now on Blu-ray

Alan Parker (Angel Heart, Evita) takes Chris Gerolmo‘s story and turns it into a 7 Academy awards nomination 4BAFTA Awards and the Oscar for Best Cinematography and nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role winning film. Now for the first time on Blu-ray.

Based on events of 1964 when three civil rights workers disappear in Southern USA, with Martin Luther King making speeches in the North, stirring things up, the government want this sorted out quickly.

They send seasoned FBI special agent Ward (Willem Dafoe, Platoon) and the older more cynical Anderson (Gene Hackman, The French Connection, Enemy of the State). It is obvious from the start that the pair are poles apart on the approach to a job, Ward is by the book and follows procedure to the letter whereas Anderson is a seasoned ex small town Southern sheriff.

The civil rights activists have been causing a stir in Jessup Mississippi and the locals don’t like their slave folks getting uppity. Churches are set on fire and slaves are beaten up, and things only get worse when Ward starts following FBI procedure in the deep South.

They encounter hostility on all sides and avoidance from the coloured community when questioned, as they have the most to lose.

Ward and Anderson hit a stone wall when they try to enlist the help of the local PD in Sheriff Stuckey (Gailard Sartain, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café) and his deputy Clinton Pell (Brad Dourif, Lord of the Rings: Two Towers). With local industrialists under suspicion there aren’t enough eyes on the job so Ward escalates the FBI involvement much to the frustration of Anderson.

Will these two ever get on the same page and find the missing boys whether they be of Caucasian or African origin.

The Acting is brilliant from all those involved especially those of Hackman and Frances McDormand (Fargo) who plays the beleaguered wife of the deputy.

 Available to Order Online Now.