FBI agents Rupert and Alan (Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe) visit Jim Crow-era Mississippi to investigate the disapperance of three civil rights activists. They find out soon enough, however, that answers won't come easy when local officials and police have ties with the KKK. There's no shortage of films like Mississippi Burning, but it stands out by simply being well-made. The cinematography is stunning (it won the Oscar that year) and the script is sharp, but the real highlights are Hackman, Dafoe, and Frances McDormand, the latter of whom plays the wife of a violently racist sherrif. The film is difficult to watch to be sure, but as long violence and prejudice reign supreme, it's also a necessary one. Apart from winning the Oscar for Best Cinematography, the film also sweeped Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations mainly for Hackman and McDormand, and for directing, editing, and sound.
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Awards
Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role at the OscarsNominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the OscarsWinner: Best Cinematography at the OscarsNominee: Best Director at the OscarsNominee: Best Film Editing at the OscarsNominee: Best Picture at the OscarsNominee: Best Sound at the Oscars
Winner: Best Actor at the Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film Festival, Official SelectionMotion Picture: Best Director at the Golden Globes (USA)Drama: Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes (USA)Drama: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes (USA)Motion Picture: Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes (USA)Winner: Best Actor at the National Board of ReviewWinner: Best Director at the National Board of ReviewWinner: Best Film at the National Board of ReviewWinner: Best Supporting Actress at the National Board of ReviewNational Board of Review, Official Selection: Top Ten Films
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director
Alan Parker
Actors
Brad Dourif, Daniel Chapman, Frances McDormand, Frankie Faison, Gene Hackman, Kevin Dunn, Marc Clement, Michael Rooker, Park Overall, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Stephen Bridgewater, Stephen Tobolowsky, Tobin Bell, Tonea Stewart, Willem Dafoe
Language
English
Mood
Dramatic, Intense, Suspenseful, Thrilling
Popular
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