Matthew mcconaughey stars as newton knight, the mississippi farmer who led a rebellion against the confederacy from the inside with the. Rent free state of jones 2016 starring matthew mcconaughey and keri russell on dvd and bluray. There were 11 other movies released on the same date, including independence day resurgence, the shallows and the neon demon. This movie is based on the true story of newt knight matthew mcconaughey, a southern farmer who lead a rebellion against the confederacy during the uscivil war, and eventually had jones county, mississippi declared a free state. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell. Free state of jones is an epic drama set during the american civil war and tells the story of. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes. The free state of jones dvd, 2016 for sale online ebay. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, knight launched an uprising that led jones. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. 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.
How accurate is the new movie about the free state of. The true story of the free state of jones smithsonian. Matthew mcconaughey thought the free state of jones script was the most exciting civil war story he had ever read, and knew immediately that he wanted to play newt knight. Ross also cowrote the movie, with first time feature screenwriter leonard hartman. A new hollywood movie looks at the tale of the mississippi farmer who led a revolt against the confederacy.
Written and directed by gary ross, the film revolves around the true story of newton. The film follows the life of newt knight, a medic in the confederate. The true story of the free state of jones a new hollywood movie looks at the tale of the mississippi farmer who led a revolt against the confederacy by richard grant. Film director gary ross developed the movie titled free state of jones 2016, starring matthew mcconaughey and english actress gugu mbatharaw. Like many others, jasper believed that the poor were dying for the desires and greed of. 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. Three and a half stars out of five the new civil war drama flick, starring matthew mcconaughey and directed by gary ross who also helmed the hunger games, pleasantville and seabiscuit. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for. In effect, free state of jones is a threepart film, about the civil war, the reconstruction era, and the midtwentiethcentury civilrights movement. As amazing as the concept is, the movie is in fact based on real events and a real man. Free state of jones 123movies 123 movies watch full movie.
For all the ravaged surface appeal of mcconaugheys performance, the character is a little too good to be true, but then, thats just the sort of movie free state of jones is. A compelling and littleknown story of the civil war period is studiously reduced to a dry and cautious history lesson in free state of jones. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, knight launched an uprising that led jones county, mississippi to secede from the confederacy. Free state of jones if the movie does not work, please try to stream it with another source under the video player. Written and directed by fourtime oscar nominee gary ross the hunger games, seabiscuit, pleasantville, critics are hailing free state of jones as riveting. It is not surprising that hollywood has finally gotten around to releasing a film based upon victoria e. The historical imagination and free state of jones the new yorker. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free state of jones the book a curious footnote started victoria bynum on a journey to recover the history of a group of deserters who fought to secede from 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. Like many others, jasper believed that the poor were dying for the desires and greed of the rich, stating, this law. As if afraid to offend anyone or put a wrong foot in. Free state of jones 2016 in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. Significant, obscure in civil war history full disclosure.
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 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. Free state of jones synopsis during the civil war a defiant southern farmer, newt knight, leads an extraordinary armed rebellion against the confederacy. The free state of jones based on a true story youtube. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than.
Rent free state of jones 2016 on dvd and bluray dvd. The free state of jones film, starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, and keri russell, will be released in may 2016. The historical imagination and free state of jones the. The shallows and free state of jones will be fighting for fourth place. 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. Matthew mcconaughey plays a soldier who treats the wounded but ends up deserting his unit after a boy he knows gets killed in battle. Knight continued his struggle into reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the war.
Met matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw en keri russell. 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. 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. 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. Despite overwhelming odds, knight banded together with other small farmers and local slaves and launched an uprising that led jones county, mississippi to secede from the confederacy, creating a free state of jones. But it involves a real historical time period, so its natural to wonder if free state of jones is a true story. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than fight the union. Free state of jones is a fascinating story that director and writer gary ross delivers in a dramatic fashion. Click here for hnns full coverage of the movie, free state of jones. Free state of jones 2016 r 2h 19m military dramas in this factbased drama, a rebellious farmer leads a group of civil war deserters in a fight to establish a mixedrace free state in the deep south.
Read more read less inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Wait 5 sec to load movie before clicking on player logo. Still, the free state of jones is an antiwar film with a commie message that still glamorizes southern pride, hard work and the good book. 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. Free state of jones 2016 trailers and clips moviefone. The script was not full of period cliches or overly polish, things i appreciated in a movie like tombstone, but could have been a distraction in free state which. And, in this respect, free state of jones reminds us that even an earnest and wellintentioned hollywood director, which filmmaker gary ross seems to have been, cannot avoid bending and shaping the history to make a movie that fits with certain hollywood demands and. Watch free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey in this militarywar on directv. Free state of jones was released in 2016 on friday, june 24, 2016 in nationwide movie theaters. Free state of jones 2016 t 2h 19m historical dramas in this factbased drama, a rebellious farmer leads a group of civil war deserters in a fight to establish a mixedrace free state in the deep south. Watch free state of jones online stream full movie directv.
Free state of jones official trailer own it now on digital hd, blu. 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. 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. Free state of jones 2016 trailers and clips 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. In 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army.
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