ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997              TAG: 9701070059
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 12   EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT

SADLY, `GHOSTS' IS ONLY SO-SO

Seen simply as a courtroom melodrama, "Ghosts of Mississippi" is moderately entertaining. Star Alec Baldwin's engaging performance as an idealistic assistant district attorney helps to offset a leisurely pace, too many cliches and a lack of suspense.

But the film is based on a true story, and writer Lewis Colick and director Rob Reiner are trying to make more serious comments on the civil rights movement, both past and present. In that area, they have little new to say, beyond the observation that black and white people still have a long way to go. The rest of the plot follows the standard Hollywood formula with a handsome white hero fighting for justice for noble, long-suffering black people.

The action begins in 1963 when rabid white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) assassinates civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Evers dies in his wife Myrlie's (Whoopi Goldberg) arms. After two mistrials before all-male, all-white juries, Beckwith walks away.

Then in 1988, with the help of Morris Dees (Wayne Rogers), Myrlie persuades a reluctant district attorney (Craig T. Nelson) to take another look at the case. He hands it off to Bobby DeLaughter (Baldwin).

At first, DeLaughter wants nothing to do with it. He's related by blood and by marriage to the racist white power structure, and it seems that no one wants him to reopen the ugly past. But he comes to identify with Evers, to understand the dead man's ambition and love for his family.

As DeLaughter's interest in the case increases, so does audience involvement. Baldwin is an attractive hero and a genuine movie star. Playing the right character, he's got the presence to carry the material over familiar ground. And the film has little originality to offer, either in the story or the telling of it.

With the exception of Baldwin, whose voice sounds comfortable, the rest of the Southern accents are atrocious. Though her role is central to the story, Whoopi Goldberg has nothing to do but stand around looking brave and sad, and to deliver a key piece of evidence when it's needed. Working under thick layers of prosthetic makeup, James Woods is a repellant but somehow fussy villain.

The mainstream film industry has a poor track record with this particular chapter of recent American history. "Ghosts of Mississippi" isn't going to change that.

Ghosts of Mississippi **

A Castle Rock release playing at the Salem Valley 8, Valley View 6. 128 min. Rated PG-13 for strong language, violence.

LENGTH: Medium:   56 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Alec Baldwin plays an assistant district attorney in the
          Byron De La Beckwith murder case in ``Ghosts of Mississippi.'' 
          color.