- Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English, French
- Subtitles: English, French
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Release Date: Jan 18 2000
- Run Time: 130 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00002ND76
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#23,470 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #48 in DVD > Mystery & Suspense > Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem > Murder
- #73 in DVD > En français > Drame > Drames historiques
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Product Description
From Amazon.com
Rob Reiner, who used to be more interested in personal style as a filmmaker, continues to duck behind bland movies about important ideas with this based-on-fact film about the embattled white prosecutor (Alec Baldwin) who brought racist killer Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) to justice after 30 years of failed attempts. Charged with the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, Beckwith slimes up the film pretty well via Woods's somewhat showy performance, while Baldwin generously assumes the usual clichés surrounding reluctant heroes. Whoopi Goldberg is at her most stately as Evers's widow. The whole self-important production is dogged by the obvious thought that it might have played better (and to far more people than it did in theaters) on television. --Tom Keogh
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Before the movement, there was Evers,
By
This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi > (VHS Tape)
Even before there was a name for the civil rights movement of the 1960's, there was Medgar Evers, perhaps the first casualty of the movement. June 12, 1963, the very night that President John Kennedy made his landmark speech to the nation about equality of the races and his administration's pledge to the basic rights of all people, Evers took a mortal hit in his back outside his home in Jackson, Miss., from a bullet fired out of racism and powered by hate. Nearly 30 years later, after two mistrials with hung juries, Evers' suspected killer, avowed bigot and hate-mongerer Byron de la Beckwith, faces his third trial set up by an idealistic prosecutor, acted with restrained emotionality but an unshakeable sense of justice by Alec Baldwin. As Evers' widow, Whoppi Goldberg brings a sense of majestic class to the lady who never gave up in her own quest for justice. And James Woods is nothing less than superlative in his portrayal of the accused, and Woods holds nothing back in projecting the cockiness, the poisonous racism and lethal hatred the real character apparently carried for most of his life. Director Rob Reiner treats us here to a lesson in history that perhaps has not given Evers his just due as a pioneer in the march for civil rights, and Reiner treats this very serious topic with respect, dignity, sincerity and commitment. In real life, Beckwith died in prison and with him hopefully went one more voice for hate and division. But, because it took nearly three decades to bring Beckwith to justice, "Ghosts of Mississippi" asks the subtle question if justice delay isn't also justice denied. The film is a magnificent achievement!
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Fact of Racism,
By
This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi (Widescreen/Full Screen) (DVD)
Growing up in a very sheltered 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.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Subdued Treatment of Landmark Case,
This review is from: Ghosts of Mississippi > (VHS Tape)
Alec Baldwin stars as a lawyer in this true story of the re-trial of the murderer of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. When Evers' widow Whoopi Goldberg approaches the District Attorney's office about re-opening the case of her late husband's murder, Baldwin takes an interest as he considers the injustice and the suffering of the Evers' family. The first two trials, 25 years earlier, were declared mistrials, and the hunt begins for new evidence that might make a re-trial a viable option. Needless to say, much stands in the way for Baldwin, both professionally and personally as he takes an unpopular stand in a still racially divided Mississippi. Baldwin, a good actor that has appeared in too few good films, is strong in this role, although he is outshone by James Woods in a flashy performance as Byron de la Beckwith, the accused racist. Woods has a field day, in heavy makeup and padding, make the most of his moments on screen. Goldberg is very subdued, and I found her performance adequate, but a bit disappointing. Actually, the film itself is quite subdued, too. Director Rob Reiner is sloppy here, not establishing much in the way of pacing or tone, but he is fortunate that the subject of the film and the fact that it is true maintains the viewer's interest despite its shortcomings. Although I recommend the film, especially to those who enjoy true stories and stories with a courtroom bent, I do wish a better film had been made about this important case in civil rights history.
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