Search - Mississippi Burning on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1988 DVD Release: 05/27/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 6 mins Studio: Image Entertainment Members Wishing: 10 Genres: Drama, Detective Film, Political Thriller See Also: Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning is an all-names-changed dramatization of the Ku Klux Klan's murders of three civil rights workers in 1964. Investigating the mysterious disappearances of the three activists are FBI agents Gene Hackman (older, wiser) and Willem Dafoe (younger, idealistic). A Southerner himself, Hackman charms and cajoles his way through the tight-lipped residents of a dusty Mississippi town while Dafoe acts upon the evidence gleaned by his partner. Hackman solves the case by exerting his influence upon beauty-parlor worker Frances McDormand, who wishes to exact revenge for the beatings inflicted upon her by her Klan-connected husband Brad Dourif. Many critics took the film to task for its implication that the Civil Rights movement might never have gained momentum without its white participants; nor were the critics happy that the FBI was shown to utilize tactics as brutal as the Klan's. The title Mississippi Burning is certainly appropriate: nearly half the film is taken up with scenes of smoke and flame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Gene Hackman - Rupert Anderson
Willem Dafoe - Alan Ward
Frances McDormand - Mrs. Pell
Brad Dourif - Deputy Pell
R. Lee Ermey - Mayor Tilman

The Image Entertainment release of Mississippi Burning presents a very nice package for a powerful film. The image is framed at the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is not anamorphic, which is a shame, but still shows that care was given by director Alan Parker with the new transfer that was used. Colors are vivid and fleshtones are nearly perfect. Small flaws, such as specks in that transfer, are rarely noticeable. Equally, the many darker scenes are steady with strong, solid blacks. The Dolby Digital surround track is primarily centered up front with some side distribution and is clear and distortion-free. As for extras, this disc comes with the original theatrical trailer, and more importantly, a scene-specific commentary track from Parker. He is very soft spoken and intelligent, calmly discussing all aspects of this film's production. Few gaps make it very easy to listen to. Though controversial on its release (which Parker film isn’t?), this is a worthy edition worth looking for. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide