MovieChat Forums > Mississippi Burning (1989) Discussion > best line in the film...

best line in the film...

posted 19 years ago by HapppinessAZ
82 replies | jump to latest

"He didn't realize that being poor was what was killing him."

In other words all the racism from the poor whites was simply misdirected anger at a group of people (blacks) who had nothing to do with their situation. The wealthy Southern white establishment had always used that to maintain the social order of the South. Its no wonder in the last weeks and months of the Civil War, disillusioned confederate soldiers were talking about the conflict as a "rich man's war but a poor man's fight", for it was in those last days they finally realized they were being used as pawns by cotton kings and other wealthy elites who didn't want their ante-bellum plantation "eden" to disappear forever.

Great film...

[–] AAAmme 19 years ago

An excellent observation. Couple that line with "Some things are worth dying for / Down here, some things are worth killing for" and I am REALLY looking forward to Chris Gerolmo's "Over There" on FX Network. The man has talent at compressing meaning into a few words. I wonder how much will carry to the new show.

[–] gord0193 19 years ago

"You know what your problem is? You don't know when to speak and when to shut up and that makes you a fool!"

[–] billyfsu20 19 years ago

"What's got four eyes and can't see?"

[–] TheGodfather1215 19 years ago

Agent Anderson: You know, if I were a Negro, I'd probably think the same way they do.
Agent Ward: If you were a Negro, nobody would give a damn what you thought.

""I dont know how to put this but....Im kind of a big deal. People know me.""- Ron Burgundy

[–] jsully9 19 years ago

We don't wanna hear about your good ole Mississippi stories Anderson,you ain't from hear no more.

[–] AndrewWalker747 19 years ago

"Thanks for the beer"

-best scene and line, so well done by Hackman

[–] stephen-donnelly11 19 years ago

"This whole thing is F ucked up"

The way Hackam delievers that line with so much raw anger is great.

[–] morpheus27 19 years ago

Baseball is the only game where a black man can raise a stick at a white man without causing a riot.

"Ha-ha-ha-hatsjoo ! Sorry i'm allergic to BULLSH*T !"

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Hitman007t 18 years ago

Did you strike a blow for the white man that night, Deputy? Huh? Did ya? Did you smile when the bulldozer ran over the black kid's body? Huh? Did ya smile? DID YA? HUH?

[–] rightwing_redcoat 18 years ago

"Looks like a Klan meeting to me, Deputy...with or without the Halloween costumes."

[–] steffie_babie 18 years ago

"Do you know how much you bleed when someone CUTS OFF YOUR BALLS?"

[–] user-153 18 years ago

something like

"this can of worms has to be opened from the inside"

Great roles for Hackman and Defoe.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] osp80 17 years ago

is he with the bureau?

he's kind of a specialist...

[–] Rabbit_with_a_Gun12 17 years ago

I cut your f*kn head clean off and won't give a sh!t how it reads in the report sheet.

I was lol when i hear that part

[–] crooked_spoons 17 years ago

I lol every time i hear that line

Otep Shamaya =*the* most beautiful woman in the world!
& im female

[–] g_jed 17 years ago

Anderson: [while grabbing Bailey by the balls] Now you listen here, Sh!tkicker! Don't you go confusin' me with some whole other body. You must be thinkin' with your dick if you think we're gonna just walk away from this. We're gonna stay 'till this gets done.

[–] nekkid_hill_billy 17 years ago

gene hackman singing the kkk song is my fav

[–] spmcevoy 17 years ago

I love the whole exchange between Ward and Anderson after Pell assaulted his wife. I'll try to transcribe it from memory.

Ward: Uh, Mr. Anderson, stop. Mr. Anderson!
Anderson: Go to hell.
Ward: I'm telling you to stop and I mean it. We're not killers. That's the difference between them and us.
Anderson: No, that's the difference between them and you!
Ward: You're not anymore like them than I am.
Anderson: Wrong! What do care what I do to some son of a b!tch hiding behind a sheriffs badge? Don't you have the whole world to change?
Ward: I'm changing it.
Anderson: Oh, you're just as arrogant as you are stupid.
Ward: You're changing it too.
Anderson: Well, I'm sure as hell going to change some of it now.
Ward: Don't do this. Don't go messing this up just because you're partial to fooling around with potential witnesses!
Anderson: Why you . . . .
(they struggle, and Ward pulls his gun)
Anderson: It don't mean sh!t to have a gun unless you're man enough to use it!
Ward: I'll kill you right now unless you listen to what I have to say.
Anderson: F$#% you.
Ward: Let me go. Let me go! (they release each other) We'll go after all of them, together.
Anderson: You wouldn't know how.
Ward: You're going to teach me how.
Anderson: You don't have the guts!
Ward: Not only do I have the guts, I have the authority!
Anderson: What's that supposed to mean?
Ward: New rules. We nail them, any way we can, including your way.
Anderson: Is this you talking, or is someone pulling your strings?
Ward: Both
Anderson: We do it my way?
Ward: Your way.
Anderson: With my people?
Ward: Whatever it takes.
Anderson: All right, all right. Give me a minute. (to Mr. Bird) You think he would have shot me?
Mr. Bird: Oh, yes sir.
Anderson: Ballsy little B#$stard, isn't he?

[–] sparshparimoo 16 years ago

Yup. My favorite part of the movie too. Especially the ending with Mr. Bird. 'Oh, yes sir'. Classic.

[–] artsy_fartsy 15 years ago

That's my favorite part, too! It's so very brilliant!!! It's such an excellent film, and the two of them are just amazing in it.

No, father, the moon's reaching for me!

[–] eliasfsm1 17 years ago

Watches are retarded 100 years in Mississipi

[–] swingers70 17 years ago

County Sheriff: "You in Mississippi now" (when describing that rules in the state don't apply the same way they do to the rest of the country).

[–] none-85 17 years ago

Anderson: "You need a toilet, Lester."

[–] bretlipowmixes 17 years ago

Just the way Hackman says, "Now you listen here SH*TKICKER" ... perfect.

You're a cantaloupe.

[–] john-white-17 15 years ago

yeah when he calls the guy a sh*tkicker that is the best line in the movie