In the Heat of the Night

El Biffo

4.5* Cinematography by Haskell Wexler. Hal Ashby, editor and assistant to the producer. The whole cast is in top form, and Rod Steiger simply great.

Jason

You may be inclined to judge IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT dated, but my suspicion is that it was pretty silly at the time. That being said, at its heart are impactful observations about the chimerical quality of prejudices and how easy it can be in the right context to dispel or arrest them (even if only momentarily). Wexler's cinematography is revelatory. And Steiger, man. There is a dude committed to a method.

msmichel

Best picture winner dates well with its then topical look at race relations, prejudice and changing American society framed within a murder investigation where the marginalized individual is the only one patient even to solve the case with justice. Performances are dynamite as is the cinematography of Haskell Wexler and the editing of Hal Ashby. Director Jewison adapted the novel/script with precision.

mjgildea

In the Heat of the Night is some really powerful stuff. True, the story isn't much more than your standard murder mystery with some racial tension kicking it in the ass, but the setting as well as all the smarmy details make all the difference. Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger are fantastic together and are alone worth the watch even if Ray Charles' theme song & Quincy Jones' score are a little too hip & out of place.

Jake Cole

I put off watching this for years because, on paper, it sounds like typical Hollywood moralizing, yet this is everything I thought it wouldn't be: nuanced instead of blugeoning, even-handed instead of two-dimensional, artistic rather than commercially "relevant." A film worthy of its reputation.

Filipe F. Coutinho

I love the way this was shot. Seems like it was a big influence on Gordon Willis. Also the entire docu-drama genre post-noir. The evocative wide shots, the masterfully composed busy frames, the way the world is used to convey the isolation of the main character... truly masterful. It’s such a pleasure to go back to filmmakers who have the balls to go wide and let the story unfold within their frames.

Mr.Rager

Indeed a very good crime thriller, especially for those times.I liked the pace of the action and how things were developed.The story is well conceived and keeps the truth til the last seconds. The acting is more than ok, Sidney Poitier had some nice lines and his caracther is interesting and complex as well. This clasic movie was a perfect choice for a summer not so hot night. 8/10

DenoResandono

This is the first time I watched a movie from director Norman Jewison. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT is thrilling, intense, complex, and exciting. Its social commentary or messages maybe looks dull. But I think it's still relevant until today. It's great to see the love/hate relationship between Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. It combined the mystery and racial tension elements perfectly. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT is great