Mississippi Burning

Each time I heard the pulsating music start working me up for the next bout of violence, I dreaded what was coming. The manipulation got to me, all right, but the only emotion I felt was hatred of the movie.

Parker has loudly claimed the right to fictionalise his subject matter, but he must not then use these fictions as evidence with which to hector us on the realities of law enforcement.

Unfortunately, the central narrative premise of Mississippi Burning sets up the FBI as the sole heroic defender of the victims of southern racism in 1964, which is more than a little disgusting.

Parker pushes the picture along at a fervent clip, with the character scenes back-to-back with chases or violence.

For once, Parker directs without depending on flashy visual tropes.

"Mississippi Burning" speeds down the complicated, painful path of civil rights in search of a good thriller.

It’s bizarre to cheer on the abuse of civil rights in a movie ostensibly about advancing civil rights.

By centering on a fictionalized account of the actual FBI involvement in solving the mystery surrounding the disappearance of three civil rights workers, the film bypasses the black role in the Mississippi Civil Rights struggle.

As a crime thriller “Mississippi Burning” maintains a simmering level of suspense. Interestingly the suspense lies more in how things play out rather than what the outcome will be.

The pairing of the two leads pays big dividends.