Ghosts of Mississippi (1996): Dir: Rob Reiner / Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Alec Baldwin, James Woods, Virginia Madsen, Craig T. Nelson: Sloppy drama about the racist murder trial that would resurface. Title indicates that the past will return to haunt us. In 1963 a negro is shot from behind leaving his family to watch him die. Byron De La Beckwith is arrested but is freed due to an all white jury. The victim's widow, Medgar Evers has the case reopened in 1989. Predictable outcome with narrative flaws such as the condition of the deceased within 25 years. Another issue regards a tree with bottles dangling from its limbs and the reason behind that is ludicrous. The ghosts suggested in the title are merely an expression of trials. Director Rob Reiner fails in what looks like a black version of A Few Good Men, but without the power or payoff. Fantastic makeup job on James Woods as Beckwith. The performance by Woods steals the film but doesn't save it. The man was vile and cruel in his racial hate and Woods brings that out flawlessly. Whoopi Goldberg fares okay as Evers who struggles for justice. Alec Baldwin is cardboard as her attorney who makes a case against Beckwith. Other roles aren't exactly a rise above conventions or stereotypes either. Theme regards sins that eventually resurface but the film doesn't quite deliver quite as highly as its message. Score: 5 / 10

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.

This excellent film tells the true story of a white southern prosecutor who has the courage to try to set right a gross miscarriage of justice that took place in the segregated South at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement 30 years earlier. Alec Balwin as prosecutor Bobby DeLaughter and James Woods as Brian De la Beckwith, the accused, give outstanding performances. Whoopi Goldberg shows her range as an actress portraying Myrlie Evers, widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers whose murder was never solved or prosecuted. Goldberg lets the viewer know that Mrs. Evers is a woman of great dignity, strength and faith.I was a young woman during the actual events that took place in Mississippi so long ago. At the time, I must not have paid much attention because none of this story was really familiar to me. I enjoyed it so much that I bought the DVD and watch it about three times a year. I have recommended the film to social studies teachers. The story serves a springboard for teaching opportunities. The artistic quality of the film never leaves the viewer feeling bored.Really good film.

In 1963 the black civil rights leader Medger Evers was shot down on his driveway. The suspect was a white man called Byron de la Beckwith who is naturally acquitted. Mrs Evers never gives up and, around 30 years later she gets a lawyer to try and prove jury tampering and thus force the DA's office to reopen the case. Despite only have two pages of an old police report and none of the original physical evidence, the Assistant DA Bobby DeLaughter reluctantly picks up the case and begins to investigate. Over several years of effort, he begins to make progress – a fact that leaves him exposed to black politicians, white politicians and racist groups from all over the state. Movies about civil rights and the degree of racism in the 1960's Southern America are always going to be impacting because they are based on fact and it is hard to watch such 'facts' from just a few decades ago in a supposedly world leading country. However these films cannot rest of their subject matter and rely on that to deliver the goods – they must have good acting, writing, directing etc just as any other film. In a way that is what this film does – it relies on the impact of this true story to do all the work while the other aspects of the film are weak. The basic plot is OK and is based on a true story but some of it is dumb. Some of it must be fictionalised and I really, really hope that Mrs Evers did not sit on the original court transcripts for decades, thus greatly hindering any work by the two or three DA's she has trying to reopen the case. Could she not have photocopied (in the late 80's) the document and passed that on, while keeping the original safe? Like I said – I don't know if this is true or not but I hope it is not in this regard particularly. Outside of this nitpicking, the actual story is enjoyable enough and it is hard not to be moved by the background and the emotion of the reality – however the film rather lazily rides on this and relies on the history and several key moments to keep it going. Certainly Reiner has no clue how to inject energy and tension into this story – happily sitting back and letting the material speak for itself rather than working to make it better as a film.What I mean by 'relying' is that other aspects are poor. The actual script is weak, writing lazy heart-string-pulling moments combine with dialogue that isn't natural and is slightly corny, to damage the film. It is a shame, with such a solid courtroom thriller to work with that the writing isn't any better. Likewise the characters are very basic – Delay is evil, Evers is a strong, good-hearted woman with a lot of dignity and a reservoir of emotion, DeLaughter is a good family guy etc etc. I'm not saying that they are not like this in real life but the film makes no effort to expand on these basic brushstrokes. For this reason the cast don't perform that well (even if some were nominated for various awards). Baldwin is OK in the lead role – he is a solid actor and does what is required – but he hardly stands out. Goldberg carries herself with dignity until she gets her chance to let out emotion near the end – it is an easy character and Goldberg hardly has to stretch even once. Woods is a better actor than this film would let you think – his character is a good racist but it is a simplistic performance that hardly gives Woods a chance to shin – he simply does what anyone else would have done. The support cast is full of famous faces that add real class even if they don't have much more to do than show their faces and deliver simple roles. Macy, Madsen, Nelson, Ladd, Romano, Stahl and Cobbs stick in the mind the most and are all OK. The film also has Darrell Evers playing himself but chances are you won't spot this until the end credits unless you really know this story well and know what he looks like.Overall this is an OK film that is interesting and passable. However it is a little annoying because it could have been a lot better (and thus impacting) if it had had a better script, better characters, more interesting direction and had been edited to be a bit tighter. The film goes for easy emotional shots and it relies on the involvement of the actual true story to keep the audience engaged; luckily for it's sake the story is interesting and involving enough to be worth seeing even in this half-cooked effort.