Free State of Jones [DVD] [2016]

If you Google the word “microcosm”, the definition describes the movie Free State of Jones: “a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger.” Jones County, Mississippi becomes representative of the situation throughout the South during and after the Civil War. Matthew McConaughey ought to be Oscar-nominated for this movie, I think. He plays a Confederate soldier turned deserter named Newton Knight, who is appalled by the unfairness of the exemptions which the wealthiest southerners get from fighting if they have at least 20 slaves. Because he’s willing to defend southerners who are being looted by Confederate soldiers, and also treats black people kindly, he inspires a following of both white and black supporters, and is willing to defend his black supporters in a scene where a white supporter tries to provoke strife (which likely happened in real life). After the war, he continues to be involved in fighting for racial equality. The movie is a very engrossing experience. The dialogue is really realistic and true to the era, including in the role which Christianity played in the community, and the movie uses captions to describe changes of locations and political events very effectively. Newton Knight feels relatable to an audience because he is just reacting, one choice at a time, to the things that are happening around him, and he chooses to defy an unjust government that’s not representing him, and repudiate its racist values, without any of those contrived scenes where he suddenly changes his values. He’s just a normal guy who is unusual for how willing he is to stand up for justice. There are several interesting scenes taking place in the 1940s where his descendant is also forced to take a stand for what he believes during a miscegenation (interracial marriage) trial. This movie ought to be shown in schools, and I hope it will be (the only part that may be too much for sensitive eyes is the opening battle scene), and also should've gottet Oscar attention and be viewed by many people.

Anyone who loves history and particularly the Civil War should see this movie and watch the bonus feature. The movie's about Newton Knight, a white southerner who joins the Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil War, just like many other white men. After the Battle of Corinth his brother finds him and reports that the Confederate Army has confiscated his family's food and their means to support themselves. At this point Knight begins to realize he's a poor man fighting a rich man's war and leaves for home. The rest of the movie's about Knight's band of deserters and runaway slaves who fight in Mississippi against the Confederates without much help from the Union Army, and declare the area they've liberated, which includes Jones County, Mississippi, The Free State of Jones. The last part of the movie gives a very accurate and disturbing picture of the post Civil War south when the federal government slowly allowed former Confederates to try to push freed slaves back into as close to slavery as possible. The action's intense at times so if you're squeamish you might have to look away during certain scenes. But even if you have to look away during the violent scenes, I recommend you still see this movie. While certain characters are fictionalized, the story isn't and it's an important look at post Civil War America.

The premises of the movie is very interesting. You have the history and civil war portion and then you have a glimpse of the repercussions of that time and how it effects the future. There are 2 story lines going on in the movie surrounding the one particular family. The 2nd story line is in a court room in Mississippi in the 1950's or 1960's. The fight for freedom and holding on to ideals is great. And then the fight to stop slavery, oppression, and lynching for the color of your skin. The movie showed the terrible things that humans can do, but the story line never really was as deep as it could have been and it tended to jump around. You can never really find the bonding and fluidness of the movie and the exact message it was trying to send. You had to do a lot of assuming and putting the pieces together yourself. I like Matthew McConaughey in the movie, but you could never really get that deep connection with his character, which I would say that is more because of the director and writing than his acting. There are some graphic and emotional scenes, but this is a good rental movie or stream it on Netflix or whatever choice of media.

this movie was asked me based on a real historic event with the Civil War so I have no complaint with this whatsoever it has basically all the historical information right. Although some of the characters are fictional but not all. What they did was right when they did take on the Confederate Army to the declare themselves and in the state during the Civil War. Because as they said they were just fighting for the rich and plantation owner not for themselves to go out and see this one on my and watch it I think you're flying than an actual historical event is more interesting than something that never happened or never will happen. Don't agree with me watch it review it let me know what you think of it. I'm always glad to hear other people's comment on the movie. Thank you bill

It's pretty amazing how little known stories from our past history have resulted in very entertaining movies. Last year we had The Revenant and more recently we have Free State of Jones. Of course The Revenant was an amazing film in so many ways and a deserving academy award winner, but I was also fascinated with the story presented here. It is filled with good cast performances especially that of Matthew McConaughey. Focusing on the message of what his character stood for and how it can relate to the world we live in today, these themes are presented in this very entertaining film. * P.S. I hope M.M. does more civil war period projects in the future. He's got a perfect flair for these types of roles.

McConaughey plays Newton Knight, like Oskar Schindler an anomaly in a horrific time and place. Knight, a pro-Union Mississippi native, marshaled a guerrilla war against his own side, the Confederates, with troops (as many as 500) including deserters and runaway slaves alike. He fathered five children in his common-law marriage to a former slave and nine more with his wife. Both families shared the same 160-acre farm. Progressive hero or backwoods disgrace?

I am a history buff and this part of history I didn't know about it until I saw the film in a theater. I wanted to have it for my history library and so I purchased the DVD. It is an excellent film, done well and follows history very well. My husband's family was from this area of Mississippi and his grandfather who fought in this war was AWOL several times. He may have been one of the men who sought safety in the swamps during the Civil War. Who knows?

The movie is well acted by all, but what impressed me was the perspective that everyone in the South did NOT support the Confederacy. The Civil War was largely fought by men who were not wealthy to support the few wealthy plantation owners who wanted slaves. This movie gave a perspective on the Civil War that I've not seen taught in most history books! Graphic battles and such, but well worth a watch for anyone interested in history, especially the Civil War.