Despite a great cast and a terrific book as source material, this movie is simply dreadful. The writing is flat, the characters muted, the direction stilted. Worse, like Mississippi Burning, the role of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi is virtually ignored. Some day, someone will make a great movie about the murders of J. E. Chaney, Mickey, Schwerner and Andy Goodman. This isn't it.
Reviews
14 Reviews
Earnest, Important, Sad
17 January 2002
Medgar Evers might have been forgotten if not for Rob Reiner's ambitious but flawed "Ghosts Of Mississippi." But if one were just to watch that film, one would only know Evers as a dead martyr with a brave widow (Myrlie Evers-Williams), a determined newspaper reporter (Jerry Mitchell) and a brilliant lawyer (Bobby DeLaughter) seeking to bring his killer to justice. However you would not know much about who Medgar Evers was or what he tried to do.
This very earnest film begins and ends with Irene Cara's dramatic reading of Myrlie Evers' words. In between, patient viewers are rewarded with a moving portrait of a determined, dedicated, and doomed man whose life was spent in a noble cause.
Don't expect big stars or flashy production values. Just watch and be absorbed into the life of a great man. THEN watch ""Ghosts Of Missippi!"
This very earnest film begins and ends with Irene Cara's dramatic reading of Myrlie Evers' words. In between, patient viewers are rewarded with a moving portrait of a determined, dedicated, and doomed man whose life was spent in a noble cause.
Don't expect big stars or flashy production values. Just watch and be absorbed into the life of a great man. THEN watch ""Ghosts Of Missippi!"
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
AIRPLANE/NAKED GUN Lovers Take Notice
7 August 1999
The first fifteen minutes of this offbeat lunacy seems as if it was the grandfather of AIRPLANE, HOT SHOTS, THE NAKED GUN, and other wild comedies. The story behind it is fascinating as well; Olsen and Johnson deserve to be much better remember
Inspired Craziness!
7 August 1999
Edgar Bergen, the ventriloquist, was a big star on radio. This film shows why he and Charlie McCarthy were so popular. Building on their radio feud with the great W.C. Fields, Bergen and McCarthy add their unique talents to this inspired lunacy.
Favorite line: Fields has thrown McCarthy into a pit of a dozen snarling alligators.
McCarthy: Help me, Bergen! Get me out! Bergen: Which one are you in? McCarthy: Who cares? Get me out of all of them!
If you are an old-time radio fan, check out this little
Favorite line: Fields has thrown McCarthy into a pit of a dozen snarling alligators.
McCarthy: Help me, Bergen! Get me out! Bergen: Which one are you in? McCarthy: Who cares? Get me out of all of them!
If you are an old-time radio fan, check out this little
Quantum Leap
(1989–1993)
Quantum Leap's Most Unique Aspect
6 August 1999
I agree with those who have stated here that Quantum Leap was a
great show.
One factor, sadly overlooked by most American television and
sadly needed by our society, was provided by Quantum Leap.
Scott Bakula's character had to solve problems by learning to
see things from somebody else's perspective. Think of the agony
caused to our nation by the events at Columbine, or the
situation in Bosnia. How much a better world this would be if
we could "leap in" and see events through the eyes of someone
who was very different than us.
Obviously, no tv show can solve the world's ills. But Quantum
Leap provided a role model hero who did not use violence to
solve problems, he used intelligence and compassion. Bravo to
the producers a
great show.
One factor, sadly overlooked by most American television and
sadly needed by our society, was provided by Quantum Leap.
Scott Bakula's character had to solve problems by learning to
see things from somebody else's perspective. Think of the agony
caused to our nation by the events at Columbine, or the
situation in Bosnia. How much a better world this would be if
we could "leap in" and see events through the eyes of someone
who was very different than us.
Obviously, no tv show can solve the world's ills. But Quantum
Leap provided a role model hero who did not use violence to
solve problems, he used intelligence and compassion. Bravo to
the producers a
Seven Years in Tibet
(1997)
Beautiful, Empty, False
2 August 1999
I've read all the comments on this film. I am a great admirer
of the Dalai Lama. As such, I read the book upon which this
film was based. The movie is an ugly and demeaning fictionalization of the truth. I do not criticize it for
altering small details or events for dramatic purposes; it is
not a documentary. But the script CHANGES the impact, reaction,
realities, and changes in EVERY main character. It vastly alters
the real relationship between Harrar and the young Dalai Lama.
From the ridiculous rivalry for a Tibetan woman (which demeans
the culture of Tibet) to Harra's music box gift, to Harrar's
change of heart, everything about this movie is false - except
for the amazing photography. I understand that the shots of the
Potala (the palace) were smuggled out of Tibet. However,
changing a real story about the relationship between two people,
one of them very important to this world, in order to build up a
movie star is sad
of the Dalai Lama. As such, I read the book upon which this
film was based. The movie is an ugly and demeaning fictionalization of the truth. I do not criticize it for
altering small details or events for dramatic purposes; it is
not a documentary. But the script CHANGES the impact, reaction,
realities, and changes in EVERY main character. It vastly alters
the real relationship between Harrar and the young Dalai Lama.
From the ridiculous rivalry for a Tibetan woman (which demeans
the culture of Tibet) to Harra's music box gift, to Harrar's
change of heart, everything about this movie is false - except
for the amazing photography. I understand that the shots of the
Potala (the palace) were smuggled out of Tibet. However,
changing a real story about the relationship between two people,
one of them very important to this world, in order to build up a
movie star is sad
Annie Get Your Gun
(1950)
The Real Question
19 July 1999
It seems to me that debating whether Garland would have been better than Hutton is a moot question. Hutton made the film; Garland did not. I, too, have heard Garland's recording of the soundtrack. It is excellent. However, we have to judge the film before us. That film stars the marvelous Betty Hutton. The problem is that the film is unavailable! Never released on VHS, rarely, if ever shown on television, and invisible on the art house revival circuit, very few people have a clear memory of the film. It'd be great to start a campaign to have it made available.
As a postscript, Bernadette Peters is superb in the Broadway revival. I did notice, however, that the Broadway version eliminated "I'm An Indian, Too" along with several other scenes/lines about Native Americans that would be less acceptable today
As a postscript, Bernadette Peters is superb in the Broadway revival. I did notice, however, that the Broadway version eliminated "I'm An Indian, Too" along with several other scenes/lines about Native Americans that would be less acceptable today
The Ernest Green Story
(1993 TV Movie)
A True Hero's Story
9 June 1999
The integration of Central High School in Little Rock was a nightmare for the brave students who broke the color barrier.
In this earnest (no pun intended) film, young people can get a sense of the courage of teenagers in extraordinary circumstances. The performances are first rate and even young viewers will understand the story.
In this earnest (no pun intended) film, young people can get a sense of the courage of teenagers in extraordinary circumstances. The performances are first rate and even young viewers will understand the story.
Christmas in Connecticut
(1992 TV Movie)
Unbearably Bad
9 June 1999
The original was a gem; beautifully written, charmingly acted,
well directed. Why remake it? There is nothing about this
version that works. The premise does not work in the 1990s, the
stars are flat; the direction insipid.
Save two hours of your life. Skip this and rent the original
well directed. Why remake it? There is nothing about this
version that works. The premise does not work in the 1990s, the
stars are flat; the direction insipid.
Save two hours of your life. Skip this and rent the original
Sullivan's Travels
(1941)
Sheer Brilliance
9 June 1999
Preston Sturges' brilliance as a writer and director was never more evident than in Sullivan's Travels. No other film captures the mood and tone of this amazing film. The first third is a brilliant screwball comedy, the second third is a romantic buddy picture, and the final third is a moving drama. Amazingly, all of this is laid against a background of political thought and cultural satire.
A complex, entertaining, and one of a kind film.
A complex, entertaining, and one of a kind film.
Sherlock Jr.
(1924)
The Greatest
9 June 1999
There is a special effect in this film - made so many decades ago - that still amazes viewers. In one scene, Keaton is chased through a house, wearing men's clothing. He dives through a window, in a continuous tracking shot, and emerges fully dressed as an old woman. Watch it in slo-mo on your VCR. It will astound you.
The entire, brilliant film will astound
The entire, brilliant film will astound
Running Against Time
(1990 TV Movie)
An Intriguing Plot!
29 May 1999
Time travel movies always assume that if we could travel in time, we could make the future better. Is that necessarily true? In this film, a history teacher travels back to Dallas in 1963, with full knowledge of Lee Harvey Oswald's whereabouts and intent. If he can stop the murder of JFK, he believes, he can prevent the war in Vietnam
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