outstanding film deal with the murder of 3 civil right worker during the fiery civil right struggle of the 1960s . gene hackman be absolutely marvelous a a southern fbi agent attempt to track down the cowardly killer in this absolute thriller of a motion picture . he receive fine support from willem dafoe . the latter play a northern fbi agent in conflict with hackman a no matter what the fbi attempt to do and they be thwart every step of the way by a bigoted and disgust town and local law enforcement officer up to their neck in corruption and murder . a the wife of a deputy sheriff and france mcdormand be fabulous a an abused woman with a conscience . the film be terrific a it show how the bigot attempt to justify their way a appropriate to their religion . they can cite phrase justify the segregation system . it be only after the fbi begin to play hardball with this hoodlum element that something be able to be do .