Ghosts of Mississippi

1996 Drama

This is a long-awaited film telling the story of the trials of Medgar Evers' killer. Medger Evers (James Pickens, Jr.) was a black civil-rights activist in Mississippi who was shot to death in 1963. Despite very persuasive evidence that Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) was indeed his killer, the all-white juries hearing his case at that time acquitted him (he was tried twice). In this film, with the aid of Ever's widow Myrlie (Whoopie Goldberg), Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin), a young lawyer, gathers enough new evidence to bring Beckwith in for a third trial. Woods' performance as a wise-cracking bigot is one of the film's highlights.

Director: Rob Reiner

Starring: James Woods, Alec Baldwin,Whoopi Goldberg, Craig T. Nelson, Susanna Thompson

Reviews

No reviews

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role

    Academy Awards (1997)

     
  • Best Supporting Actor

    Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1997)

     
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

    Golden Globes (1997)

     
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture

    Image Awards (1997)

     
  • Human Rights

    Political Film Society (1997)