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Visitors Review

merklekranz 2013-05-24 06:14:52

Plodding history lesson ...................

This could have been a pretty good ninety minute film. Unfortunately itis 130 minutes and the extra 40 minutes is almost fatal. There is animportant story being told, that is somewhat dulled by way too muchextraneous material, along with some distracting family distress, andchild coddling. Less would have been best in the case of "Ghosts ofMississippi. The acting by Alec Baldwin, Whoppi Goldberg, andespecially James Woods is totally acceptable, but the movie drags onway too long. I realize being based on fact, the writers were somewhatrestricted, but I would have preferred a lean story, without thedistracting extras involving wives and children. - MERK

doogie-3 2013-05-23 18:08:22

Powerful, emotional and uplifting

This story of a woman's fight to seek justice for her husband's murdererspans 30 years, and yet for those of us who remember the incident spans alifetime. Alec Baldwin is the epitome of a man devoted to lift the blindfoldfrom those who try to emulate Lady Justice, yet fail to remember that shetakes no sides. Whoopi Goldberg brought to this performance a drive, innerstrength and passion which puts aside her typical whimsical side and shows aversatility few may have expected.Medgar Evers founded the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi, yet too fewpeople remember exactly who he was or why he was driven to undertake such abattle. This movie is very underrated at 7 out of 10 stars. It is a MUSTSEE.

ClintnBarbWard1 2013-05-15 23:25:48

good movie

In Ghosts of Mississippi Alec Baldwin plays bobby delaughter who try tobring MEdger Evers killer Bryon DE la Beck-with played by James woods.Whoopi Goldberg is in the film too as medgers widow. rob directs. ithink James woods a tremendous performance as Bryon DE labeckwith AlecBaldwin did a good job better then his usual work and whoopi Goldbergdid a decent job even though there is one thing in the whole movie thatshe does that drives me nuts it is when she first talks to Alec Baldwinover the phone and sacarsa;y talks to him and then simels. William hMacy is my second favorite character in the whole movie when he says icant get a women to love me now when I'm alive. this movie is reallyentertaining especially the performances by James woods and William hMacy. its a movie i recommend to everybody

Lee Eisenberg 2013-05-15 15:51:05

only Rob Reiner could do this

I don't know whether "Ghosts of Mississippi" was the best movie everrelating to the Civil Rights Movement, but it is quite good. Portrayingthe struggle to bring Medgar Evers's murderer to justice many yearsafter the murder, the movie will remain important, just because of ourcountry's racist legacy (I had actually never heard of Medgar Eversbefore this movie came out). Alec Baldwin, James Woods, VirginiaMadsen, Whoopi Goldberg, Craig T. Nelson and William H. Macy all dovery well in their roles (Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter Yolandaalso appears).So, while some people may say that there are so many movies like thisthat they all get blurred, we need to remember something: this is partof OUR history. As Americans, we have an obligation to deal with ourracist past. And we should commend Rob Reiner for making one of manymovies about this.

2013-04-22 23:22:04

Ghosts

This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi (Amazon Instant Video) Well, this certainly said it all. the South was then what it was and can we now just move past all this and love one another?

2013-04-22 12:38:12

The Fact of Racism

Growing up in a very diverse and loving community I never really saw the effects of racism. When it was taught in school it always seemed like something from the distant past. This film really brought home the fact that racism is not as distant as I once believed. It is a scary thing to see adults who harvest so much hatred towards other human beings. This film was a real eye opener.

anonymous 2013-04-03 02:00:59

Brilliant!

Ghosts of Mississippi is an excellent movie. I went to see it twice at thetheatre. Director Rob Reiner does a gret job. James Woods is absolutelymarvelous.

Neeraj B Bhai 2013-04-02 13:00:54

Found it very gripping

I found this movie very interesting and gripping with Goldberg doing, asusual, an excellent job. What still confuses me is the alibi of themurdererbeing 95 miles - doesn't seem to have come out very clearly (but then Ihadmissed a small part of the movie).All in all, I enjoyed it a great deal when it was shown on HBOrecently

2013-04-02 10:47:06

Bravo

This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi (Amazon Instant Video) Such a great cast and well acted by all. James Woods hits his role so perfectly that I just wanted to reach through the TV and slap that smug attitude right off his face. Bravo to the producers who brought this story out to a new generation who may not know the struggles some endured to get to where we are today.

2013-04-01 17:23:55

No Justice For White Guilt

Aside from a deftly constructed performance by James Woods, there's not much to this paint-by-numbers courtroom caper. Only in a Clintonesque landscape would a film be made about a (white) lawyer attending a (black man's) funeral and suddenly feeling that person's pain! Egads! There really is no justice for White Liberalism! For a better take on the real thing, check out _Mississippi Burning_; this flick is simply manipulative, curiously sentimental and ultimately shameless.

Mort-31 2013-03-14 09:36:14

Enough time to prepare

I guess, this movie tells a true story; at least the titles at the endsuggest it. So what? Do they have to turn everything into a movie? Not everystory life wrote is also interesting in fiction.Being the 5189th courtroom drama from Hollywood, nothing in this movie isimpressing. Nothing – and I like courtroom movies. Thewhite-kills-black-and-the-other-way-round-problem has been stressed enoughby others including John Grisham already. This movie doesn't even offer aninner conflict viewers might be involved in, because there's no doubt todaythat some one who kills another one is supposed to be imprisoned, no matterwhat color of skin his victim had. Only racists could possibly take theother part and I don't think the movie was thought forracists.„Ghosts of Mississippi` is not gripping at all. In the end, before theverdict is announced, there are exactly two possibilities what might happen– guilty or not guilty – and by stretching the situation Rob Reiner givesthe viewer enough time to prepare for both solutions and not to be surprisedor feeling anything else no matter which of the verdicts the juryreaches.The movie is full of clichés, the characters' way of thinking is evensimpler than in similar American movies. Of course, the lawyer has somelittle chrildren and he explains them that it's right what he is doing. Ofcourse he has a wife who feels neglected because of his work. Of course,there is the widow of the victim who is still fighting against that one badman who killed her husband. Nearly everything is comprehensible, but it'salso boring and hackneyed.What I understand least, is that so many distinguished actors took part inthis disaster. Whoopi Goldberg is only sentimental all the time, with herfamous face expression where you don't know, whether she is smiling orcrying. And James Woods, over-over-acting, is put into a completelyunnecessary and amateurish make-up – it's like little children playing dramaat kindergarten. Maybe, James Woods was so ashamed of the movie that he hadhis face covered until he was not recognizable any more. I forgive him. Butonly him.

Theo Robertson 2013-03-14 00:35:58

True Story Badly Told

The problem with GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI is how the script is constructed .The very first scene shows a murder taking place and we`re shown whocommitted the murder , so instead of wondering who`s implicated in thekilling the audience aren`t treated to any surprises or how the story isgoing to be played out unlike the far superior MISSISSIPPI BURNINGUnsurprisingly GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI feels like a John Grisham story broughtto the silver screen , especially A TIME TO KILL . The hero lawyer BobbyDeLaughter strives for justice no matter what the cost is to himself , heputs his reputation and family life on the line in order to find out thetruth . It is based on a true story but never feels anything more than acliched melodrama set in the deep south

2013-03-12 03:39:01

An excellent movie dealing with Civil Rights issues.

This is a movie that needs to be seen, much like "Saving Private Ryan" needed to be seen. It would open eyes to the harshness of the time and the idea that good can prevail.

2013-03-11 12:05:57

The serious side of Whoopi

We all know and love the funny side of Whoopi. With this stellar performance Whoopi proves that The Colour Purple was not a one off. She brings the character to life with great compassion - hard to do in any story. Great to see if finally out on dvd

bogie-24 2013-03-02 17:25:24

Strongly against this slow twaddle.

What could have been a topline film has been adulterated by slipshoddirection, poor writing and shocking editing. Over half the film should havebeen cut and stronger dialogue added to the more potent scenes. The directorhas destroyed an important story line and topic by diluting all the dramaand stereotyping the performers which is a shame because blokes like AlecBaldwin show he can actually act but he has to do it with the weight of theworld on his shoulders. Whoopi is a fine actress in anything but here she iswashed away by turgid meanderings. James Woods stands out mainly because thedirector forgot everyone else in his attempt to show one evil man ratherthan a ridiculous and evil system. American Blacks must view this film withthe same angst they would a Laurel and Hardy film. And with as muchrespect.

2013-03-02 04:44:12

Ghost of Mississippi

This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi (DVD) True story from the 1960's. Start's in Mississippi goes to Oregon and then to Tennessee to get the killer and back to where it all started 25 years later. Thank You Mr DeLaughter you are a true HERO. Rest in Peace Medgar.

Dr. Michael Hollywood 2013-02-20 13:01:54

awesome film

Strong performances from Alec Baldwin, James Woods, Whoopi Goldberg,Craig T. Nelson, Bill Smitrovich and William H. Macy makes "Ghosts OfMississippi" one of the best movies I have seen. "Ghosts OfMississippi" deserved an Oscar in every single category that one can begiven in because it was that good.I never knew the story of Medgar Evers before I saw this film; but, Ilearned a lot through watching the film. I hope everyone has the sameexperience and opportunity I had when I saw this movie because it isone history lesson that should be seen rather than read in historybooks or newspaper archives. I was truly honored to watch this film.There are several reasons this film is a success; one of them are theperformances. "Ghosts Of Mississippi" is each actors best film of theircareer bar none. Alec Baldwin brings intensity, aggressiveness andnever say die attitude to his role as Bobby DeLaughter.Whoopi Goldberg stars as Myrlie Evers, widow of Medgar Evers, who withrelentless pursuit of justice re-opens this murder case. Finally, JamesWoods stars as Byron De La Beckwith, the defendant, who with greatconviction and sincerity brings the essence of the real person to thesurface.As great as Baldwin and Woods are in this they do not hold a candle toGoldberg who gives not only the best performance in the film, year butI dare say the best performance of the decade of the 90's. Known forher comedic roles in the "Sister Act" series, Goldberg turns dramaticfor "Ghosts Of Mississippi." This is a very impressive turn and mostlikely her best dramatic role since "The Color Purple." The intense andaggressive style Golberg brought to her role as the widowed Mrs. Everswas beautiful to watch.The second reason why this film remains on my short list of best filmsare the messages that brought up. For example, equality for all and thefact that any discrimination will not be tolerated under anycircumstances. Another message I got from this film was under nocircumstances should anybody underestimate the power of tenacitybecause it will make dreams come true every time.This film was thought-provoking, brilliant, inspiring and compelling.In addition, "Ghosts Of Mississippi" will move you to tears, put asmile on your face and anger you because these are the emotions I feltwatching this movie.Combined with the excellent ensemble performances, brilliant script andmessages this film had "Ghosts Of Mississippi" is one film you can'tmiss. There will most certainly be other inspirational films that comealong, but "Ghosts Of The Mississippi" still remains at the top of mylist as one of the most inspiring films I've seen. Two thumbs way up.

Cue-ball 2013-02-19 18:49:16

I agree with honesty

Someone commented that this movie made history boring, and I agree. I wasinterested in the story of Metgar Evers when I watched this movie on TNT,but the movie seemed uninspired and predictable. If this seems anunreasonable criticism of a movie based on the not-too-distant past, compareApollo 13. Alec Baldwin, James Woods, and Whoopi Goldberg were wasted inthis film.

2013-02-10 04:02:37

Falls flat of its initial promise...

The biggest problem with `Ghosts of Mississippi' is that it is bland. The story is not technically a bland one, I mean it is a true story of the murder of a civil rights activist and the trial that brought a terrible man to justice, but the way Reiner goes about delivering this story is anything but exciting. The acting is decent, and at times engaging, but for the most part they are merely passable and do nothing for the film in general. I really wanted to like this movie.The film opens with the devastating murder of Medger Evers, a young husband and father of three who was a civil rights leader in Mississippi. In 1963 his life was snuffed out by outraged racist Byron De La Beckwith. Due to a racist judge and a racists jury Byron was found `not guilty' Medger's widow Myrlie tried for thirty years to get justice for her husband but to no avail; and then Bobby DeLaughter walked into her life, or should I say that she walked into his. Moved by her story, and the similarities to his own life (he is also a husband in his thirties and father of three), DeLaughter works around the clock to reopen the case, sacrificing his own marriage and his own safety to finally do right by this scorned and broken woman.Sounds like a real attention grabber, doesn't it.Sadly, it's not.One issue I have with the film is the acting. Baldwin, Goldberg, Woods; they are all capable actors but none of them really rise to the occasion as far as I am concerned. Baldwin probably does the best job, and that's mostly because he has far more screen time and so he has more opportunity to make up for his overall blandness. Woods is just plain hammy at best. He succeeds in creating a creep, but he comes of as no more than a gimmick. I was really disappointed with Goldberg, who has delivered so often in the past. She was just way too reserved here, too conservative. I felt no real emotion come from her. It all just felt like an overly rehearsed line reading. The direction doesn't help the film any either. Reiner builds no tension within the film and so it just tends to drag on. There is no excitement, no reason for us to pay attention because it feels like nothing is happening.There is a scene where DeLaughter rushes his family outside because he fears there is a bomb in his house. This is supposed to be tense. It is not. Watch `The Insider' and notice how Michael Mann builds so much tension with a similar `rush out of the house' type scene. There are many films that deal with this type of subject; in fact I've seen quite a few of them the past week. This is one of the worst. Watch the glorious `Mississippi Burning' or even `A Time to Kill', which was released the very same year. Both films are much more respectable and much more engaging than this wasted opportunity. It's sad, because this is as important story that deserved a better storyteller.

msultan 2013-02-09 09:35:01

it's the story of a man

This is a good movie, but it uses the Southern background only tohighlight the goodness of a lone ranger lawyer. We do live in aworld where sensitive issues sell, and segregation is one suchissue. I found that it was misused, almost abused, here, becausethe movie really doesn't care about the story of Evers. The focus ison Bobby deLaughter, a rightful, misunderstood, unhappilymarried lawyer who wants to bring justice forth. Although heaspires to be Judge, he is defeated, the end text says, implyingthat this case was the cause of his defeat. Ultimately, I saw thismovie as the story of a 'good white man'.This being said, the movie is good, although it gets preachy in atacky way (the sessions with the kids and wife, etc.). DeLaughter'saides' characters are weak and undefined. William Macy isparticularly annoying although he has one or two good lines. Morepresence of Whoopi Goldberg's character would havestrengthened the movie. James Woods was very good though,especially during the trial, always noticeable in the background. Incloseups he is a convincing hateful white supremacist. Watch hisquivering lips.If you're looking for a movie about the Civil Rights movement or theracial attitude of the American South, I recommend MississippiBurning. The Ghosts of Mississippi is good, but void of something--I can't tell what. It's too clean-cut.