Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Matthew McConaughey | ... | ||
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | ... | ||
Mahershala Ali | ... | ||
Keri Russell | ... |
Serena
|
|
Christopher Berry | ... | ||
Sean Bridgers | ... |
Will Sumrall
|
|
Jacob Lofland | ... | ||
Thomas Francis Murphy | ... |
Elias Hood
|
|
Bill Tangradi | ... |
Lt. Barbour
|
|
Brian Lee Franklin | ... |
Davis Knight
|
|
Kerry Cahill | ... |
Mary /
Yeoman Farmer
|
|
Joe Chrest | ... |
James Eakins
|
|
Jessica Collins | ... |
Annie
|
|
Donald Watkins | ... |
Wilson
|
|
Jill Jane Clements | ... |
Aunt Sally
|
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. 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 of Jones. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War. Written by STX Entertainment
9.25 of 10. The many shades of slave and involuntary servitude come to light in this story. A film that's true enough that it deserves to be something shown to students to help their interest and expand their understanding of American history, but too gruesome, violent, and explicit in language for the typical school.
It may also be a little too quiet and slow moving for some, but the depth to which the film explores obscure American Civil War facts and events, both during and after, makes one curiouser and curiouser to see where it goes.
This is a rare film that you can watch a trailer of, or not, and not have it ruin the film. In fact, it would be very difficult to anyone to write a spoiler for this. It's also something you want to watch from beginning to end, or at least until the credits shift to white text on black. It may not be the ideal theater film, but it definitely is worthy of a hard copy for your book/DVD shelf.