Controversial Subject Matter+Alan Parker= Probably the one of the most powerful films ever made

Rating: Null/10 (30 March 2001)

When three civil rights activists disappear in 60s America's Deep South, the FBI are sent in to investigate a small town in Mississipi and it's corrupt Sheriff's office. Facing a wall of silence and unwittingly sparking off a chain of tragic events instigated by the Klu Klux Klan, the FBI have to bend the rulebook to get to the truth. Alan Parker's most moving and powerful film since Midnight Express, is an adrenalin emotion rush from start to finish. Gene Hackman (easily his best performance since the French Connection) and Willem Dafoe are the perfect mismatch of partners. Mr Ward (Dafoe)the FBI agent that plays everything by the book and Mr Anderson(Hackman),old school FBI who is the complete opposite. The two men are an absolute joy to watch. With Hackman you see every piece of Masterclass acting, from facial expressions, his laughing, every little detail. While Dafoe couples with Hackman to make them both light up the screen and bring their characters to life. Support from Brad Dourif (Deputy Pell) as the Sheriff's deputy and Michael Rooker as the unashamedly racist Frank, add to the masterclass and all help a fantastic script with some amazing dialogue move along at the perfect pace which if you can keep up with, the rewards from this film are of the highest and most thought provoking ever felt on celluloid.