Mississippi Burning
Blu-ray Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Gene Hackman, Williem Defoe,
Plot: Product Description:
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: 5/5
This is one of those movies I return to often. I have seen
this movie so many times, and it never falters in its disturbing truths. This is
a film with flawless acting, dynamic direction, and utterly haunting imagery and
storytelling. There is a darkness to this film. Its equal parts truth, and equal
parts fiction. It adds a disturbing truth of history, and details the horrible
reality, and death of three young civil rights workers. A deep south of hate,
anger and murder. A deep south of hatred, so thick that it murdered innocence. I
am from the south and it pains me to say I know hatred so well. I grew up remembering
the Klan holding rallies down town and hearing hatred spewed. It’s
shocking to think people have such ignorance that skin color or race matters.
This film is often one I recommend to anyone who has not
seen it. The dark, atmospheric, small town claustrophobia of Americana, at its
darkest time, is filmed with a nightmarish ordeal. Something that is beyond words
is the cinematography by Peter Biziou. He captures a darker toned, small time
Americana that leaves a storybook setting, yet enters the recesses of criminal
history as an image. The film is written in a way that you’re reading a True
Crime book.
When I heard that Twilight Time Blu-ray was releasing this
on Blu-ray I was jumping for joy at the prospect of owning this on a high quality
blu-ray finally. They did not let me down. This is everything I could ask for
in a High Definition, and beautiful audio blu-ray. This film has never looked
like this. Amazing transfer, and something that stands out above and beyond most
transfers. I loved this product as much as I love the movie.
I think what ultimately stands out the most about this film
is the actors. This has some of the greats of cinema embracing this horrible
plight of hatred. The god of cinema Gene Hackman needs no introduction. A
master talent of old-school and new school perfection. Williem Defoe, lord how
I love thee. He is the pure essence of all things cinema. Starring in some of
my favorite films of all time, 1985’s To Live and Die in L.A., 1986’s Platoon,
the masterpiece 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ, 1989’s Born on the 4th
of July, and many others including this one I am reviewing. He is the pivotal
idea of perfection in acting. The amazing award winning Frances McDormand stars, in all her
beautiful glory. Always a priceless performer, and the role of Mrs. Pell in
Mississippi Burning is no different. The very under appreciated, and over looked
master, Brad Dourif. Brad is a constant performer of excellence in the art form
of acting. No matter how small, weird or dark a role is, he masters it was
ease. R. Lee Ermey, Gailard Sartain, Stephen Tobolowsky, Pruitt Taylor Vince,
all four masters in these parts, and in their careers. Also starring the amazing
man himself, Michael Rooker. A true performer that never gets the praise and
perfection he deserves. I will never forget him as Henry Lee Lucas, in one of
the most disturbing films of all time, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
Now as you have read, I mentioned, equal parts truth and equal
parts fiction. The film is loosely based on the real life murders of 3 civil
rights workers in 1964. The story revolves mainly around the two FBI Agents, Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward, in real life these persona's are based on Agent
John Proctor and Agent Joseph Sullivan. The movie changes a lot of the real
truths, such as names and also the ability in locating the three bodies. But
the story is still based on the real life event, just with many alterations of
the real reality. This changing takes nothing away from the story, or film, because the movie, is brilliant in just about everything a movie can be
brilliant with. Flawless acting. Flawless directing. Flawless story,
cinematography and music score. The whole film is just one of those movies that
is brilliant in so many ways.
This was nominated for many Academy Awards including Best
Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Cinematography, which it won for, and
rightly deserved. Possibly one of the best cinematography experiences you will
have in cinema. As Roger Ebert stated, it is one of the best films of 1988. I
feel it is one of the best films period, and should go on any list of great
pieces of cinema.
Something that makes this stand out is the writing. Chris
Gerolmo wrote a wonderful film. Gerolmo on an interesting note, wrote and
directed one of the greatest TV films of all time, Citizen X, which was the true
story about the Ukrainian Serial Killer Andrei Chikitilo. He has a wonderful
way in telling a haunting story. Mississippi Burning is parts historical, parts
fiction and equal parts unrelenting thriller. He was able to capture a perfect
American story, and give a tight, haunting, and disturbing piece of backwoods
Americana at its darkest.
I suppose the director really needs no introduction. Sir Alan
William Parker is one of those fantastic directors that leaves a true stamp of
mastery on his achievements in film. Directing such greats like, 1978’s Midnight
Express, 1987’s Angel Heart, 1999’s Angela’s Ashes. No matter if he is
directing musicals like, 1980’s Fame, or 1982’s Pink Floyd: The Wall, he is a
prime example of a directing genius.
Twilight Time did an amazing Blu-ray transfer. A perfect
choice to bring this film to blu-ray.
Audio/Video: 5/5
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
The imagery is vibrant. The darkened moments are crisp, right
along with the colored moments. The imagery seems almost new. The clarity of
the film has never looked any better. The sound quality is the same. The audio
is spot on. There is no flaw in the audio and video department.
Extras: 3/5
Isolated Score Track. Amazing feature as always. The music
is done by a music master, Trevor Jones. A wonderful composer and conductor in
the Film Score reality. He has mastered many great film scores. Trevor Jones
music is filled with such amazing emotional depth, that it lingers long after
the film. Trevor Jones has done some of the great films in cinema, supplying
the original score for 1981’s Excalibur. The unique and odd horror film, 1982’s
The Sender. The one and only, amazing, brilliant and pivotal part of my
childhood, the spectacular, magical and fantasy weaved, 1982’s The Dark
Crystal. The wonderful 1984 mini-series The Last Days of Pompeii. From both
small screen, to large screen, he has graced the cinema world with a wonderful
array of passionate sounds, music that digs deep into your soul, and mind, and
tells you a story. I can sit here and mention movie after movie that he has
done, for he is a master talent that bleeds the art-form of crafting a story
around his music. His music tells the ultimate emotional understanding of films, and Mississippi Burning is no different. He also has worked on another Alan
Parker film, Angel Heart.
Audio Commentary with Director Alan Parker. Great to hear
the director talk about his film and the history of the movie.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Insert Booklet by Film Historian Julie Kirgo. A great read
and perfect addition to this Blu-
ray.
Overall:
Twilight Time aced the video and sound quality. A lovingly
crisp, tight and vibrant Blu-ray. Loved everything about this movie, seeing this for
the first time on Blu-ray was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this Blu-ray.
INFO:
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