Mississippi Burning (1988)

Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. Hilarity ensues as the younger agent (Willem Defoe) trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his former Sheriff partner (Gene Hackman).

Trivia: The film is inspired by the murder of voting rights activists J. E. Chaney, Mickey Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. The film was considered very controversial at the time of its release because even though it was a work of fiction, it was obviously based on a actual case and many felt too many facts concerning the actual case were distorted or left out. During filming of rednecks-vs-reporters scenes on a bridge over the Big Black River near Bovina, Mississippi, two extras were nearly killed by a train when they ventured from a holding area onto a tall concrete-arch railroad bridge. They narrowly escaped injury by huddling on a tiny pedestal on the bridge's edge.

You know what, I like Gene Hackman. His no nonsense tough good old boy mentality is just fun to watch. He is the equivalent of comfort food, if that makes sense. It is comfortable watching him. I have been watching more and more out there type movies and even though it is fun and they are great, once in a while you just need to sit down and watch a hollywood blockbuster mainstream movie. Mississippi Burning is not the best movie I have ever watched, but it was fun to watch.