In the Heat of the Night (1967)

The critic praises the gripping mystery in which Poitier rocks a Mississippi community as a sophisticated black detective wrongly arrested. They highlight the delicious grainy cinematography and Quincy Jones soundtrack in this classic.

The critic praises the twist-filled storyline and excellent understated lead performances from Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, along with strong support and a cool jazz score from Quincy Jones. It is called probably Norman Jewison's best picture and noted for its Oscar success.

The re-release review praises the film's enduring political relevance and Poitier's commanding performance as the standout element over its thriller plot.

The film remains sadly topical for its sharp portrait of implicit racial bias in policing and everyday encounters. Steiger and Poitier's performances, especially in the tense initial interrogation scene, highlight the film's enduring relevance and nuanced character dynamics.

The critic finds the 1967 film still stands up well on re-release as a brilliant feverish drama despite some dated liberalism. They single out Sidney Poitier's elegant performance as Virgil Tibbs and the clever premise of the race thriller.

The critic finds the civil rights-era melodrama gripping and intense with hindsight, highlighting the strong performances and memorable script as key strengths.

Sees it as smooth, beguiling entertainment with sharp social observation and strong performances, especially by Poitier and Steiger. Highlights effective confrontation scenes and the way the film delivers its message without being overly heavy-handed.

The film offers a nuanced take on racial prejudice through the combative yet evolving relationship between Poitier's Tibbs and Steiger's Gillespie. It avoids simplistic resolutions, emphasizing the persistence of bias even amid mutual respect and professional collaboration.

The film is a gripping and suspenseful murder mystery that gains greater importance through its social significance and racial themes. Poitier's performance as the breakthrough Negro detective hero stands out, supported by strong direction and technical credits despite some flashy excesses.

Praises excellent performances by Poitier and Steiger that overcome script and direction flaws to create an absorbing Southern murder drama. Notes strong production values and cast while criticizing uneven plotting, some pretentious direction, and unclear elements.

Calls the film a simplistic rah-rah underdog story that reduces real racial issues to something odious and contrived. Criticizes heavy attitudinizing, predictable plot devices, and lack of genuine instinct over myth-making.

The critic highlights the film's immeasurable historic value as a landmark in changing attitudes on race, alongside its strength as a superior thriller that holds up independently. Poitier's fierce, intelligent performance as Virgil Tibbs is singled out for praise, along with the film's noirish tone, the evolving buddy dynamic with Steiger, and Haskell Wexler's moody cinematography.