![[box cover]](../../reviewimgs/m/mississippiburning_mgm.jpg)
Mississippi Burning
Alan Parker's acclaimed 1998 civil rights drama Mississippi Burning is strictly remedial. With nothing to offer beyond the concept that racial segregation in the deep south in the 1960s was not a very nice thing, Parker and screenwriter Chris Gerolmo spend over two hours on the dull story of two FBI agents playing cat and mouse with a gaggle of surly Klan members. Saving grace Gene Hackman keeps the movie watchable as a good-ol'-boy Fed, but Willem Dafoe is one-dimensional as his uptight partner, a performance in dedicated consistency with the rest in the film. Despite some gorgeous cinematography by Peter Biziou, Parker's imagery is as trite as the plotline, and — just like the pre-civil rights south — the black folk are shuffled into the background and marginalized. Also with Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, and Michael Rooker. MGM's DVD release of Mississippi Burning is well-presented in a solid anamorphic transfer (1.85:1) and audio in Dolby 2.0 Surround. Includes a dour commentary by Parker. Trailers, keep-case.
—Gregory P. Dorr
(Editor's note: Mississippi Burning was previously released on DVD by Image Entertainment.)