In 1963 Mississippi, civil rights leader Medgar Evers is assassinated by Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) leaving his wife Myrlie (Whoopi Goldberg) a widower. Byron is arrested and treated as a hero by the white establishment. It's 1989. After two hung juries, Myrlie wants to reopen the case. Assistant district attorney Bobby DeLaughter (Alec Baldwin) and his southern family don't see the point of pursuing the case. He's the son-in-law of the original racist judge. Every piece of evidence and transcript have disappeared except one unnamed source claiming Myrlie as the killer. Bobby decides to take on the case despite the opposition from everyone including his wife, the 6th Amendment, and the march of time.

This is obviously important history. For the most part, the first half is pretty good. It's unflinching in it portrayal of Mississippi of the past and the present. It does threaten to go melodramatic at times. The story is so devastating that director Rob Reiner's little melodramatic touches are not necessary. The trial gets stretched and the tension starts to fade. I guess the real story restricts his dramatic efforts. This is a big story and Reiner does a reasonable job.