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Home » Review of "Mississippi Damned"

Review of "Mississippi Damned"

by
Danielle Riendeau
, Contributing Writer
July 2, 2009

Sammy and Leigh aren’t so lucky. Sammy’s NBA career doesn't go as planned, and Leigh remains obsessed with Paula (Jasmine Burke), her high school sweetheart-turned heartbreak. Both begin to repeat the same patterns that got them into trouble in the first place.

As the picture’s primary lesbian character, Leigh is sympathetic and flawed (much like everyone else). At the beginning of the film, she’s a butch high school girl utterly in love with Paula, who is sexy and slinky — all smiles and flirtatious looks to Leigh, but keeping a boyfriend behind Leigh's back.

Hammitte brings a great deal to the role. We genuinely feel for Leigh as her mother and father scold her for her “behavior.” We’re happy for her as she and Paula kiss innocently in the bedroom, and devastated when Paula shies away from her in public.

It’s the sort of heartbreak that most queer women have experienced before — presented with brutal honesty. How she deals with this event comes to define her as an adult.

Perhaps the film’s greatest triumph is in its unwavering authenticity.

The movie shies away from very little, connecting all of the invisible dots that lie in between victims and abusers, shining light on the reasons why events have transpired the way they have. Violent scenes are staged and shot straight up, with a dynamic camera that refuses to pan away from the ugliness. Depictions of sexual violence are a bit more implicit — though no less disturbing.

Certainly, the realism applies to the more mundane details as well. Everything in the film breathes authenticity — the straight-out-of ’86 dance music, the slang, even the cars and dingy houses feel just right. Part of this lies in the excellent cinematography and obvious attention to detail, and part on the music and prop selection.

It’s difficult to find fault with Mississippi Damned — it’s clearly a personal, important piece of work from a very talented filmmaker.

This is one of the better dramas to released in 2009 — gay or straight — and it’s absolutely worth catching during its run on the LGBT and independent film festival circuits this summer.

Visit the film’s official website at mississippidamned.com

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Journey_Wmn's picture

AMAZING!

Submitted by
Journey_Wmn (226 posts)
on July 1, 2009 - 11:12pm.

I saw this movie at Newfest it was absolutely amazing and definitely a must see! Tina Mabry out did herself. You have to see it for  yourself

 

"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it."      - M. Caballero

Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com

monica_ca's picture

Looks amazing

Submitted by
monica_ca (685 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 12:46am.
After reading this review, I'm really excited about getting to see it at some point.
Nona J.'s picture

Wow!

Submitted by
Nona J. (342 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 12:49am.

I have to see this film!   

 " True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united" ~ Wilhelm von Humbolt

riotgrrrljaz's picture

awesome!

Submitted by
riotgrrrljaz (96 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 1:56am.

Definitley looking forward to seeing this!!

 

______________________________________________ 

We Want Revolution Grrrl Style Now! -BIKINI KILL 

swandiver's picture

This is definitly going on my "must watch" list

Submitted by
swandiver (81 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 5:15am.

I went to the website and watched the trailer (there's also one on YouTube) and will be telling everyone about it.

www.swandiver.wordpress.com

"Those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained" - William Blake

Melissa Hsu's picture

Thanks.

Submitted by
Melissa Hsu (not verified)
on July 2, 2009 - 8:36am.

I would like to watch this movie even though it seems a little soap opera like. However I will mainly see this for the actress Jossie Thacker (starred in the short film "Brooklyn's Bridge to Jordan"). And I was sold on the statement: "As the film goes on and the time period shifts to the late 1990s, the children grow older and begin to repeat the mistakes their parents have made — sometimes they make entirely new ones." Isn't this the truth?

There are other actors in the movie I recognize. Thanks for the information.

nyukid02's picture

Did you know...

Submitted by
nyukid02 (1 post)
on July 4, 2009 - 6:08pm.
Did you know the writer/director of "Brooklyn's Bridge to Jordan" is the same writer/director of "Mississippi Damned"! Just an FYI. :)
sweetiedarlinmia's picture

Must See

Submitted by
sweetiedarlinmia (384 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 9:41am.

This movie just sounds incredibly honest and real. I have to see it.

.★.Matt The Rock$tar.★.'s picture

Wow something i can relate to

Submitted by
.★.Matt The Roc... (2393 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 9:49am.

I definitely have to put this on a must see list.

shortypants's picture

Mississippi Damned>>

Submitted by
shortypants (501 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 10:07am.

 

This movie sounds incredbile.  I will be seeing it when it hits DC.

I wonder if the name is a play on, 'Mississippi, God Damn!'...

Meke's picture

I gotta see it

Submitted by
Meke (206 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 4:30pm.
I gotta see it
foxp2's picture

Genius.

Submitted by
foxp2 (1 post)
on July 2, 2009 - 4:53pm.

This is what we should be looking at. This is what we should be watching.

 

God bless the child that got its own.

CrystallineGreen's picture

Wow...

Submitted by
CrystallineGreen (60 posts)
on July 2, 2009 - 6:07pm.

Glowing review, I need to see that movie asap!

Hope it will come to Europe at one point, sounds like a great indie flick with all the right stories and actors!

Thanks for the review :)

aksala's picture

speechless...

Submitted by
aksala (275 posts)
on July 3, 2009 - 6:03pm.


Lovely review.  I NEED to see this film.  can't wait.  

"Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss

Lunakiss's picture

Mississippi Damned,A Must See Film

Submitted by
Lunakiss (2085 posts)
on July 4, 2009 - 7:13pm.

I need to know more about Tina Mabry. 

 I guess I'll wait for this film to come out on dvd b/c no way a film like this will be in AR.

I,too, recgonize  actors in the trailer from other films and tv series they have appeared in or had occurring roles.

 Most of the time independent films  are better than many mainstream movies; this look like one of many.

C.a.m.i.l.l.e's picture

Can't Wait!

Submitted by
C.a.m.i.l.l.e (16 posts)
on July 5, 2009 - 2:18am.
I'm so excited to see this film. Yay, Tessa Thompson again! I just saw her in the Best Friends episode of Cold Case. If you haven't seen it, check it out. I'm loving her.
Diva4Life's picture

Must See...

Submitted by
Diva4Life (27 posts)
on July 6, 2009 - 6:51pm.
Yes I must c this film.  A lot of interesting issues that will b brought 2 light.  Can't wait 2 c what da outcome reveals....
SapphicDay's picture

See now this is the type of promotion AE should do.

Submitted by
SapphicDay (205 posts)
on July 8, 2009 - 6:42pm.

Promote a good film FIRST and if it just happens to have lesbian characters even better, but I read allot of bull on this site just 'cause it is lesbian oriented and YES I know what the leaderboard says.

At least this is a film that looks interesting and thought provoking..

 

Technology Will Lead To The Demise Of Civilization As We Know It. 

luna81de's picture

I absolutely have to see

Submitted by
luna81de (74 posts)
on July 26, 2009 - 6:25am.

I absolutely have to see this film! Sounds really, really good. :)

btw, Tessa Thompson is great! I've once sent her a mail after seeing her in Cold Case (usually I don't do such things) and she actually replied - not just a short "thanks". She was very sweet and completely down to earth. Can't wait to see her as Kari.

VeeJay's picture

Hmm a must see!

Submitted by
VeeJay (16 posts)
on July 28, 2009 - 3:02pm.
I can't wait to see this film :-)
zanna's picture

lookx good

Submitted by
zanna (1 post)
on July 29, 2009 - 5:31pm.

wow this film sounds realllly good.cant wait to see it

Brutal_Romance's picture

for people who live in the middle east

Submitted by
Brutal_Romance (384 posts)
on August 9, 2009 - 10:01am.
and obviously cant attend the film festivals, is there a way to watch this movie, or should I wait till it somehow reach Amazon so I can get it?

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