Plot & Details
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.
- MPAA Rating: PG-13
- Genre(s): Drama
- Run Time: 130min.
- Theatrical Release Date: 01/03/1997
- DVD Release Date: 01/18/2000
- Director(s): Rob Reiner
- Starring: Alec Baldwin , Whoopi Goldberg , James Woods , William H. Macy , Craig T. Nelson
- Themes: Social Injustice,Righting the Wronged
- Tone: Cerebral,Deliberate,Matter-of-Fact,Rousing,Talky
- Keywords: Civil-Rights,activism,assassination,bigotry,courtroom,investigation,killing,lawyer,murder,trial [courtroom],widow/widower
- Language: English
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actor | James Woods | Nominated |
| 1996 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Makeup | Deborah La Mia Denaver | Nominated |
| 1996 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Makeup | Matthew Mungle | Nominated |
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