Mississippis longest civil war in 2003, years before the movie. The movie stars matthew mcconaughey as newton knight. The free state of jones based on a true story youtube. What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for. The new civil war film free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey and gugu mbatharaw, is richly researched, but its flat assemblage of history strips out the storys texture and. What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for moral rectitude. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell.
A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters, runaway slaves, and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government. This is the main reason for its heightened disloyalty to the confederacy. Jul 27, 2016 free state of jones is an epic drama set during the american civil war and tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight academy awardwinner matthew mcconaughey, and his. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum.
Murray closestx entertainment actor matthew mcconaughey won an oscar for his performance in the 20 movie dallas buyers club. Jun 20, 2016 in 1862, when free state of jones begins, newton knight is just an anonymous battleweary medical nurse, up to his elbows in carnage, who ducks out of combat to take the corpse of a young. Free state of jones the introduction battle movie clip. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing free state of jones near you. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive combat action that has long been a staple of american movies. Free state of jones synopsis during the civil war a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, leads an extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. Free state of jones official trailer own it now on digital hd, blu. Free state of jones was a book before it was a movie victoria e. The free state of jones dvd, 2016 for sale online ebay.
It tells of a rebellion against the confederacy led by an angry farmer named newton knight, whose ragtag army of poor whites and escaped. Free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his. Film director gary ross developed the movie titled free state of jones 2016, starring matthew mcconaughey and english actress gugu mbatharaw. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. Factchecking free state of jones confirmed that private jasper collins portrayed by christopher berry in the movie put down his weapon and abandoned the confederate army after the passing of the twentynegro law, which stated that plantation owners who had more than twenty slaves were exempt from fighting.
Free state of jones the movie set during the civil war, the free state of jones tells the story of a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. Free state of jones is a war movie set during the american civil war about a real life group of rebels within the confederacy who decide to rebel. Jun 23, 2016 free state of jones needed to blow the dust off history so that it stings for the here and now. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring. Free state of jones needed to blow the dust off history so that it stings for the here and now. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes, benefits rich plantation owners who. Bill newcott is a writer, editor and movie critic for aarp media. Free state of jones 2016 movie moviefone in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Free state of jones is too boring to be bad in an interesting way and too infuriating to be bad in a fun way. Free state of jones 2016 in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Freehling also refers to it as the kingdom of jones. Morrison series in southern studies bynum, victoria e. Instead it crams half a dozen movies into one, diminishing its central story a tale of impassioned principle in the face of violent oppression.
In 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Matthew mcconaughey as newton knight in free state of jones. Free state of jones has the noblest of intentions, but they arent enough to make. Free state of jones is a film of interest about a part of american history that became relevant to the nation, and continued to inspire social movements years later, if not maybe progressive attitudes of today everywhere, towards less educated people and above all towards the idea of race. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. A flawed, but powerful experience julian roman jun 24, 2016. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes, benefits rich plantation owners who want to ensure.
Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell it was released in the united states by stxfilms on june 24, 2016. Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. Presentism, introducing presentday ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past, can infect the best efforts of movie makers as well as historians. Free state of jones reveals a littleknown chapter of.
Free state of jones takes place in 1862, in jones city, mississippi, where a confederate soldier named newton knight matthew mcconaughey finds himself demoralized after witnessing a teen boys death on a bloodsoaked battlefield. Free state of jones the introduction battle movie clip matthew mcconaughey war drama 2016. Jun 24, 2016 gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. In 1862 mississippi, newton serves in the confederate army, but not happily. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Rent free state of jones 2016 on dvd and bluray dvd. Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical period war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the. Newton knights skillful leadership and the independent tribal spirit of the people helped as well. While factchecking the free state of jones movie, we learned that jones county, mississippi had only a 12 percent slave population, fewer than any other county in mississippi. Free state of jones on dvd september 20, 2016 starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, keri russell, mahershala ali. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than fight the union. This littleknown, counterintuitive episode in american history has now been brought to the screen in free state of jones, directed by gary ross seabiscuit, the hunger games and starring a. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than. T he american civil war has been combed over in popular culture countless times, but the true story that inspired the new film free state of jones, out friday, may still surprise some viewers.
Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. Free state of jones could have benefited from a similar unity of theme. In 1862, when free state of jones begins, newton knight is just an anonymous battleweary medical nurse, up to his elbows in carnage, who ducks out of combat to take the corpse of a. How anticonfederate southerners shaped the course of the civil war oxford. A southern farmer opposed to slavery and secession abandons his post during the civil war only to find confederate soldiers stealing the food and property of the already suffering locals. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. Jun 05, 2016 matthew mcconaughey as newton knight in free state of jones. Free state of jones soundtrack music complete song list.
Jun 23, 2016 t he american civil war has been combed over in popular culture countless times, but the true story that inspired the new film free state of jones, out friday, may still surprise some viewers. The historical imagination and free state of jones the new yorker. As the civil war rages on, mississippi farmer newton knight, his neighbors and a ragtag group of slaves band together and lead jones county to secede from the confederacy, establishing a mixedrace free state in the heart of the south. Jun 23, 2016 free state of jones could have benefited from a similar unity of theme. Murray closestx entertainment actor matthew mcconaughey won an oscar for his performance in the 20 movie. Free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive combat action that has long been a staple of american movies. Jones county is a county located in the southeast portion of the u. Free state of jones is a 2016 american historical war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the american civil war. Watch free state of jones online stream full movie directv. Free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his e. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The civil war is the backdrop for the new matthew mcconaughey movie free state of jones, in theaters june 24.
The historical imagination and free state of jones the. Jun 23, 2016 matthew mcconaughey seethes with righteous fury in free state of jones, a tale based on an intriguing, littleknown chapter of civil war history that, despite impeccable intentions, becomes. Matthew mcconaughey, keri russell, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali. Free state of jones the movie the new state of jones. Jun 23, 2016 the civil war is the backdrop for the new matthew mcconaughey movie free state of jones, in theaters june 24. Starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell, jacob lofland. The story of the jones county rebellion is well known among mississippians, and debate over whether the county actually seceded from the state during the war has smoldered for more than a century. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones movie yify subtitles. Mcconaughey plays newton knight, a southerner who deserts the confederate army and. Opposed to both slavery and secession, knight launched an uprising of poor white farmers that led jones county, mississippi to itself secede. Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring oscar r winner matthew mcconaughey, free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. The free state of jones official movie source page.
Read the free state of jones movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. The american civil war has been combed over in popular culture countless times, but the true story that inspired the new film free state of jones, out friday, may still surprise some viewers. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 24 hours to finish once started. Much as ross wanted to shoot the movie in jones county, there were irresistible tax incentives to film across the border in louisiana, and some breathtaking. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. Free state of jones arrives with a heavy handed approach but offers a. Free state of jones is an epic drama set during the american civil war and tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight academy. Free state of jones 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Set during the civil war, free state of jones tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. It tells of a rebellion against the confederacy led by an angry farmer named newton knight, whose ragtag army of poor whites and escaped slaves declared a portion of southeastern mississippi, including jones county, independent and loyal to the union. An authentic tale of the governor of the free state of jones. Dec 22, 2016 free state of jones is a 2016 american historical period war film inspired by the life of newton knight and his armed revolt against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, throughout the. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones synopsis during the civil war a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, leads an extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. This is a rare film that you can watch a trailer of, or not, and not have it ruin the.
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