Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning begins with three civil rights workers in a car. Two are white and one of them is black. They are flagged down by who appear to be the police, and all three are shot dead. This is a true story. The FBI is called in. One is down and dirty, he's old fashioned and played by Gene Hackman. Willem Dafoe plays the more intellectual and optimistic agent. Together, they attempt to uncover who the killer or killers are. But Mississippi Burning isn't just some standard "who done it", but rather a realistic look at racism. Using scenes that feel like documentary footage and long conversations and three dimensional characters, the director: Alan Parker evokes a time and a mood with perfection. There's a great scene is Mississippi Burning where Hackman tells Dafoe what the heart of racism is. It all comes down to: My life may be shit, but at least I'm not a nigger. Parker handles this scene and many others like it with such cinematographically minded and character adhered camera work and pace, that Mississippi Burning becomes what was probably the best movie in 1988. I haven't seen one better and I doubt I will.
Mississippi Burning: ★★★★