Meathead March – Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) – Sweet Archive

For today’s first review of Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), here’s Reut from Sweet Archive with her thoughts on it.

Thanks Reut! תודה רבה רבה

 

 

On one of my visits to MovieRob’s awesome blog I discovered Meathead March Blogathon dedicated to Director Rob Reiner, and as a meathead fan, I jumped in and declared my review choices. Here we go!

 

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)

 

Based on a true story. Jackson, Mississippi, 1963. Civil rights leader Medger Evers is shot in the back by one Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods), a white extremist. For over 25 Myrlie Evers (Whoopi Goldberg), futilely Attempts to bring De La Beckwith to conviction with no success due to false jury. In 1989 Myrile is determined to bring justice to her husband’s death for the third time and gets the attention and committed involvement of assistant district attorney Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin). With most of the evidence missing over the years and many of the witnesses deceased, DeLaugter encounters numerous difficulties, including an unsporting wife whose still very much trapped in her racist beliefs.

I’ve never even heard of this film before, which kind of surprises me. It’s kind of a well-known film, directed by a well-known director with a well-known cast… Hmmm… I wonder, anyways, that is why I decided to choose it for this blogathon. A chance to watch AND review it.

Ghosts of Mississippi is not an unknown story. It begins with the 1960’s with the uprising of civil movements whose goals were to end racial segregation and discrimination against black Americans. Many films were made on this highly significant matter and tell the stories of many African Americans facing wretched conditions and violent acts to the extreme. It’s sad and cruel and often very hard to contain. When watching a film such as this one, you cannot stay indifferent and calm. This virtuous film serves the very important purpose of mirroring past atrocities in the eyes of today’s viewer, as many other films are set to do.

Rob Reiner is great. I love his style in so many films. He spreads over several genres, and manages to pull off a successful collection… Need I mention Stand by Me or The Princess Bride?

Woopi Goldberg is very good in this film. Throughout the film she remains tough and very determined, and yet very quiet and subtle. She’s a proud woman tightly grasping a will for justice and she does a great job at it. Alec Baldwin is sweet as always. Even if I tried I couldn’t say bad things about him, and there’s really no need. He’s great. He is just great. James Woods, on the other hand, I can’t really stand. I don’t think there is one film I can say I liked Woods’ character in. He is a great actor though, and was nominated for a best supporting actor for his role as Byron De La Beckwith. James Woods is the man I love to hate. He’s that good. Wait, am I being nasty or kind to the man?

 

Ghosts of Mississippi is a good film, and yet it’s not one of those I could instantly watch again. I highly recommend it, though. The films is important and holds your attention until the very end and that is why a one-time watch is enough. Films like these take a lot of energy and absorbing abilities and I need to be in a very specific mood to inhale such hardships. I cried. I did. You can’t really hold back when watching a story like this.

My score: 7.5/10