Much of the conflict is expressed from the outset as agents Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward arrive on the scene Gene Hackman is given one of his finest screen opportunities in the role of agent Rupert Anderson. There is a relentlessness to Hackman's performance that drives this film. Willem Dafoe plays lead agent Alan Ward. The contrast in acting styles, the easy manner of Hackman and the more rigid Dafoe, add a natural spice to the relationship of their characters. Hackman's Southern small town Anderson and Defoe's Eastern college educated Ward express an intimate portrait of the conflict between North and South. But it's the way Hackman digs in, the sense of moral right that makes him want to clean up the mess, the fire that wants to burn through the wall of hatred that poisons every one it touches, that sets his Anderson apart. You could look at Mississippi Burning as a procedural drama of sorts as the FBI sweeps into the small Mississippi town and sets up shop for their investigation into the deaths of the three men. But above all, there is the eternal struggle of the South and its past.
     Alan Parker is a fine visual story-teller. Given the excellent Gerolmo script, the Walker Evans-like cinematography of Peter Bizou(Check out another side of Bizou's work in the current The Truman Show.)and the terrific performances across the board, Parker puts the pieces together that make Mississippi Burning an outstanding film.
     Parker's commentary on an audio track is a welcome addition to this fine DVD production. There are times when the decade of years since he made Mississippi Burning seem to blur his memory of the filming, yet small insights add welcome dimensions to the filmmaking process. One can only imagine the entire crew putting cotton on a field of bare cotton pants for one scene or the tons of dust dropped on the streets to achieve the look Parker wanted. The commentary has gaps as scenes play out, but one has the sense that Parker is sharing those moments with the audience. The widescreen DVD has consistently sharp images. Dusty landscapes have a good balance of tight film grain and slightly washed out color. Burning crosses play dramatically against pure black night backdrops. The Dolby 2-channel recording is clean, the Southern accents distinct, and the score by Trevor Jones has an open feeling.