Ghosts of Mississippi

1996 "From the director of A FEW GOOD MEN comes a compelling TRUE STORY."
6.7| PG-13| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 20 December 1996
Producted By: Columbia Pictures
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Ghosts of Mississippi is a drama covering the final trial of the assassin, Bryon De La Beckwith, of the 60s civil rights leader Medgar Evers. It begins with the murder and the events surrounding the two initial trials which both ended in a hung jury. The movie then covers District Attorney, Bobby DeLaughters transformation and alliance with Myrlie Evers, wife of Medgar Evers, of the, as he becomes more involved with bringing Beckwith to trial for the third time 30 years later. Some of the characters are played by the actual participants in this story.

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Reviews

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.
Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
vincentlynch-moonoi This is a superb film.First of all, it appears to me that this is a reasonably good telling of the real story. Although, it may surprise people to know that the prosecutor played by Alec Baldwin later ended up in prison himself when he became a disgraced judge himself (you can read about it in Wikipedia).But aside from the telling of the story, what impressed me about this film was the quality of the acting, particularly for a couple of people about whom we may have forgotten just how good actors they were.Alec Baldwin is superb as prosecutor Bobby DeLaughter. In fact, I wonder if this may not have been his finest film performance.Whoopi Goldberg is equally excellent (and restrained) as Myrlie Evers, the widow of Medgar Evers.And James Woods, though he plays the villain here, is excellently disgusting as Byron De La Beckwith, the convicted assassin of Medgar Evers.To be honest, it's difficult for me to find fault with this film. It's very solid.
Shopaholic35 Ghosts of Mississippi is an emotional movie that shows how hateful the human soul can be. It may be quite similar to Mississippi Burning but they both have their place. Ghosts of Mississippi is slightly more political and less violent. It focuses on the fight for justice and the roadblocks faced in controversial high-profile cases.The sheer effort that was involved to develop a level of tolerance in the South is despicable. Every time I watch a movie where racism is so prevalent it simultaneously boils my blood and breaks my heart. The acting is very good and makes you feel like you are living the story. James Woods does such a good job that you can't help but despise him. Especially since he is portraying a real person and not a two dimensional character.Don't underestimate the emotional connection you will have to this movie. It will move you and is certainly worth your time.
Ben Larson It may not be the best film about race relations in the South. Mississippi Burning and A Time To Kill have more intensity, but it is still compelling and worth watching for some great performances.Alec Balwin (Bobby DeLaughter) turned in a fine performance. Personally, I feel it is the best he has ever done.James Woods was perfect as Byron De La Beckwith. He channeled the venomous hatred and cocky arrogance so familiar in those who were consumed with their self-worth, gained by stomping on others. This performance resulted in an Oscar nomination in a year with many fine performances.Dixie DeLaughter, played by Virginia Madsen, shows how ingrained racism is in the South, and how difficult, if not impossible, it is for a marriage to survive with a disparity in views, whether it be race or politics.I also enjoyed seeing Wayne Rogers as Morris Dees, even if it was a small role.This is an important film that should be seen by all who care about the state of race relations in this country.It should also be see by all young people so they can see a sign at a gas station saying 22 cents a gallon. Those were the days.
alicecbr The specter of Gov. Barnett shaking the hand of DeLaBeckwith in front of the jury reminds me of the great line of 1 reporter to another: "You're not in America, you're in Mississippi." One exception: Mississippi has a Air America Radio Station. My home state, Alabama doesn't, so maybe they're leap-frogging your intellectual progress. I can't forget that your state gave birth to William Faulkner, as mine did Truman Capote and Harper Lee. Nor that Mississippi gave birth to BB King and Robert Johnson, as well as many other blues greats, who wrote the blues because of the 'inspiration' given them by the atmosphere in Mississippi.The movie has Medgar Evers' brother AND Alec Baldwin as Bobby Laughter saying, "You can change the law, but it will be a long time before their hearts are changed." Alec refuses to tell Mrs. Evers (Whoopi Goldberg in a great role) that they've found the gun (in his father-in-laws house, a judge who may or may not have presided at the 1st 2 mistrials where DeLabeckwith is ridiculously freed by an all-white jury). His new wife points out that "You were afraid she would leak it", indicating that there's mistrust on both sides.Great movie. I STILL want to read that review off your Univ. of Mississippi site of the book. Wonder if Judge Bobby Laughter still lives. He's no Alec Baldwin, but he had guts, as did Judge Johnson of Alabama, who paid for his courage with his life from the white supremacists' exploded bomb. Never forget that it's the silence of the educated middle classes that promotes such hatred as we've seen in Mississippi and Alabama.Watching the first scenes between Judge Laughter (Alec Baldwin) and his blonde wife evoked memories of Kim Bassinger, who bought a town in Georgia. Wonder how many of those scenes Alec used his ex-wife for inspiration in preparation for.Here's something to chew on: Alec Baldwin and George Clooney have been featured in some fantastic films about human savagery disguised in business suits. Arnold and Reagan were in films that extolled human savagery and buffoonery. Can we extrapolate from that who would make the better president? Baldwin and Clooney have the intelligence, the looks (unfortunately, that's important in our increasingly superficial citizenry), and the compassion to make great presidents, n'est ces pas?Good movie AND timely. From Alabama, I was especially interested in the newsreel shots at the beginning. The cops beating the black people reminds me of what happens to dissenters today nation-wide.