Mississippi Rising (2005 TV Movie) User Reviews

What a wonderful event!

[MaeE · 9/10 · 19 May 2006]

I was unable to watch this television event because I was sitting in the audience watching it live! I am from Oxford, and I was thrilled that our town was able to be a part of something so great. My understanding is that it was held in Oxford is because the University of Mississippi's chancellor offered the coliseum free of charges, as a means to get the ball rolling. Also, many of the performers who came have connections to the University.

Mississippi does not get a lot of celebrities. So this event was quite large for our town. The performances were outstanding. Faith Hill sang, as well as Jason Alexander doing a comedic Broadway act, as well as a few others. Debbie Allen's dancers did a phenomenal job as well. Many people came and introduced clips of the wreckage. I was honored that I was able to be there and be a part of such a wonderful fund raiser. At last count, over $15 million had been collected and was being distributed.

As for the Ray Romano joke, it was simply that. Our airport has been under construction for expansion for the last 2 years. The arrangements for those flying in were made through our small airport so that the local chauffeurs could meet and drive the celebrities to their host family's homes; instead of picking them up at the Memphis International Airport.

That's Quite A Line-Up, I Must Say

[richard.fuller1 · 9/10 · 25 November 2005]

I didn't realize when this thing would be airing and forgot about it. I got to see about half of it.

It was okay, I guess, but I suppose Mississippians are kind of wary of Hollywood types stereotyping us.

The benefit was held in Oxford, of all places. For those who don't know the layout, Oxford is in northern MS.

Okay, but the hurricane hit on the coast, which is as south as you can get in Mississippi and still be on land.

Why wasn't it held in Jackson? Heck, they could have done it in north Jackson, in Madison-Ridgeland, and it still would have been close enough.

Closer than Oxford was.

Nevertheless, Ray Romano did make a fairly good joke about arriving at the Oxford international airport. If there is a landing strip of some sorts there, that is largely all it is. A landing strip. Don't know. I'm not familiar with Oxford.

Performance-wise, it was the same stock behavior these guys turn out on every appearance they make like this.

The only ones I recall were Jason Alexander doing Broadway ditties (Jason, your in MS. Broadway? You could have let us hear how you do some country songs and that probably would have been a wee bit more memorable) and Marilyn McCoo and Bill Davis Jr toward the end.

Morgan Freeman referred to the southern food. Alas, MS has more going for it than the dinner plates.

I just hope it reached the right people to donate, which then reached the right people who would truly benefit from their presence.