Free state of jones arrives with a heavy handed approach but offers a. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 24 hours to finish once started. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. Film director gary ross developed the movie titled free state of jones 2016, starring matthew mcconaughey and english actress gugu mbatharaw. Matthew mcconaughey, keri russell, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali. 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. 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. How anticonfederate southerners shaped the course of the civil war oxford. 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. Bill newcott is a writer, editor and movie critic for aarp media. 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.
Jun 23, 2016 the civil war is the backdrop for the new matthew mcconaughey movie free state of jones, in theaters june 24. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones movie yify subtitles. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. 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. Free state of jones is too boring to be bad in an interesting way and too infuriating to be bad in a fun way. 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. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. 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. Rent free state of jones 2016 on dvd and bluray dvd. Freehling also refers to it as the kingdom of jones.
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. 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. 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. Free state of jones could have benefited from a similar unity of theme. Jun 23, 2016 free state of jones could have benefited from a similar unity of theme. Free state of jones has the noblest of intentions, but they arent enough to make. The free state of jones official movie source page. Jones county is part of the laurel, ms micropolitan statistical area. Free state of jones official trailer own it now on digital hd, blu. Starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell, jacob lofland. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, knight launched an uprising that led jones county, mississippi to secede from the confederacy, creating a free state set during the civil war, free state of. The civil war is the backdrop for the new matthew mcconaughey movie free state of jones, in theaters june 24.
Free state of jones 2016 in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than. The free state of jones based on a true story youtube. In 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Free state of jones needed to blow the dust off history so that it stings for the here and now. 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. Jun 05, 2016 matthew mcconaughey as newton knight in free state of jones. Instead it crams half a dozen movies into one, diminishing its central story a tale of impassioned principle in the face of violent oppression. Free state of jones was a book before it was a movie victoria e. Directed by fourtime oscar r nominee gary ross and starring. An authentic tale of the governor of the free state of jones.
Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. Watch free state of jones online stream full movie directv. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. 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. Jun 23, 2016 free state of jones needed to blow the dust off history so that it stings for the here and now. What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for moral rectitude. 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. This is a rare film that you can watch a trailer of, or not, and not have it ruin the.
Newton knights skillful leadership and the independent tribal spirit of the people helped as well. Opposed to both slavery and secession, knight launched an uprising of poor white farmers that led jones county, mississippi to itself secede. 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. 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. 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.
Morrison series in southern studies bynum, victoria e. Free state of jones the introduction battle movie clip. 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. The free state of jones dvd, 2016 for sale online ebay. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. Jun 24, 2016 gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. 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. Mississippis longest civil war in 2003, years before the movie. 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. 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.
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. 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. What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for.
A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government. In 1862 mississippi, newton serves in the confederate army, but not happily. Murray closestx entertainment actor matthew mcconaughey won an oscar for his performance in the 20 movie dallas buyers club. Free state of jones on dvd september 20, 2016 starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, keri russell, mahershala ali. Free state of jones the introduction battle movie clip matthew mcconaughey war drama 2016. 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. 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. Matthew mcconaughey as newton knight in free state of jones. Free state of jones 2016 movie moviefone in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. It tells of a rebellion against the confederacy led by an angry farmer named newton knight, whose ragtag army of poor whites and escaped. Murray closestx entertainment actor matthew mcconaughey won an oscar for his performance in the 20 movie.
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. Free state of jones reveals a littleknown chapter of. 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. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Free state of jones synopsis during the civil war a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, leads an extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. 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. Free state of jones the movie the new state of jones. 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. 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. This is the main reason for its heightened disloyalty to the confederacy. The historical imagination and free state of jones the new yorker.
Mcconaughey plays newton knight, a southerner who deserts the confederate army and. 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. A defiant southern farmer, newton knight matthew mcconaughey, leads an extraordinary rebellion with farmers and slaves to secede from the confederacy during the civil war. Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. The historical imagination and free state of jones the. 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. 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. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than fight the union. Free state of jones soundtrack music complete song list. Matthew mcconaughey and gugu mbatharaw in free state of jones 2016. The movie stars matthew mcconaughey as newton knight. A flawed, but powerful experience julian roman jun 24, 2016. Read the free state of jones movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on.
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