Free State of Jones

An entire generation of filmmakers has become so entranced by Matthew McConaughey's deep-southern drawl that they now take turns seeing just how deep into the South they can set their films, each one trying to force McDrawl ever deeper. Free State of Jones is one such attempt, taking M's bourbon-smooth resonance deep into the swamps of ole' Miss, where things happen, and a nation is born. Freedom isn't free.

(THE LINCOLN FARMER)

A guy in the audience with a Gary Johnson 2016 pin on his jacket jizzed in his pants during a couple McConaughey speeches.

I'm surprised by the critical reception of this movie; I think it's fantastic. Messy and over-zealous on occasion, but it suits the chaotic subject matter. MM is great and the story is very interesting. More thoughts to come...

This was quite, quite well done! McConaughey is so damn good; it's as good as he's been since Dallas Buyers Club for sure. It's a subtle performance but a powerful one. The story and its message is presented seriously and from a fatalist point of view, which is actually refreshing. While I was worried at first about the bouncing narrative once it revealed itself, they pulled it off. Cudos to the choice to employ a laundry list of historical experts to keep this as accurate as possible. See it!

A story more worthy of a documentary, than a dull and to long movie that only skimmed the surface.

FREE STATE OF JONES is a well-meaning, self-righteous, jumbled, and utterly fascinating film destined to bore most audiences to death. A passing interest in American history is recommended for this story about a Confederate deserter who builds a community to chart an independent path through the Civil War and Reconstruction. It often puts too fine a point on complex issues, yet resists the urge to embellish a perfectly dramatic historical narrative enveloped by the eerie beauty of the bayou.

McConaghey definitely is on a role with his script choices, opting for character driven dramas with a historical moment in time used as the central premise. Perhaps a bit too long would be the only real complaint about the film and even then I dont mind if the film carries itself in a compelling manor. Free State of Jones is hard to watch at times but that is because knowing these things happened should always be hard for us to comprehend.

This movie has some flaws, but it held my attention. After watching it, I found myself days later still thinking about it's characters.

This could quite possibly be Mcconaughey's greatest film ever.

McConaughey is on a roll. This might not be America's finest part of history but it's better than watching the History Channel.

Overlong, yet overstuffed. It's a story worth telling, but it's not told very well.

I may have given it another point but the McConaughy beard was distractingly bad.

Mm

The film depicts a movement in the history of civil war that appears to be the birth of equallity among men and women, black and white, rich and poor. And how eagerly I want this to have happened, I have a hard time believing this depiction of Knight and the moral depth and richness of his socialistic views he represents. There is no historical consensus about Knight and it would have been a really good film when that controverse had been given shape. On the other hand... I love this Knight.

It's a solid story to be a movie, but it seems a bit wasted. McConaughey and Ali has very good performances. By the way, I don't know if it really was, but for the overall flat tone of the film, the confederate colonel looks a bit cartoonish.

ger; [free state of jones]; während des amerikanischen zivilkrieges formiert sich eine widerstandsgruppe zur befreiung der unterdrückten durch die armee - doch auch ein sieg lässt den konflikt zwischen schwarzen und weissen nicht beenden.; (ein drama ohne happy end);

Great MM performance. Fascinating historical subject. Somewhat flawed/clumsy film-making/structure with pacing issues. -> A quality film but not a 100% succesful piece of cinematic entertainment. Definately not 4 the multiplex crowd. Yet, history & acting enthusiasts will find much to admire in this very adult (not in The Tarantino sense!!) piece of human(e) story-telling.

Bites off more than it can chew and consequently has the uneven structure of a badly planned answer in a history exam, lingering over the war period and then rushing to cram in the post-emancipation years. The flash-forward scenes are a strange device that doesn't doesn't really work and the frequent use of explanatory text speaks to the plot's inability to cover the amount of ground required of it. Strong individual performances keep the film watchable, however.

Not sure on the historical accuracy but the film is entertaining and McConaughey turns in a good performance. More Mahershala please.

Fascinating story of the rebellion within the Confederate army; McConaughey is perfect as the rock solid soldier, Mbatha-Raw and Ali are achingly moving as the head slaves in the revolt. Leisurely paced and informative, without ever becoming dull, it seems destined for 'classic' status -- until excess story threads are dragged in during Act 3 that the film has no time to develop; clumsy flash forward to a largely irrelevant 'Jim Crow' era trial is an irritating distraction.

68.000

Feels like a quality mini-series, but as a epic historic movie of race and injustice that one's supposed to sit in one-go it lack terribly in it's pacing. It's a terribly important story it tells, so it's a shame it's urgency wasn't felt stronger.

If you think a thick, juicy slab of Civil War history can't be boiled down to 145 minutes of speechifying, stultifying cinema, then grab a seat at Free State of Jones. Like the worst civics lesson, this movie bores away at you till your reactions are dulled.

Surprising this didn't receive more critical acclaim. Except for running too long & - like life - ending relatively anticlimactically compared to what came before, everything about this is noteworthy. Its subject seems to have been a truly unique & brave individual taking a stand on issues that wouldn't be addressed for decades - a Marxist proletariat & a human rights advocate in a time of indisputable oppression & overt class-based favoritism. It's also another great McConaughey performance.

The third act fell flat.

Starts out pretty good. The whole story during the war is working just great, but then for some reason Ross is just rushing us through what should be at least equally, maybe more important than all the rest. McConaughey - two thumbs up once again.

Interesting story.

During the Civil War, one Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey), disgusted with how the wealthy have escaped the real ravages of war, spearheads a rebellion, leading to the creation of a de facto independent state in southeast Mississippi. Based on a rather disputed chapter in American history, this is an intermittently gripping historical drama, with vivid sequences and decent performances marred by a wandering script and considerable overlength. Not unworthy, but certainly compromised.

Entertaining racism. Felt like when I'd watch the history channel all day with my brother and my dad. Was half expecting an episode of Dogfights to come on after.

The actors do what they can but the film is heavily hampered by a mediocre script and weak direction. Enough dumb moments sprinkled throughout paired with terrible pacing lowers this film from simply dull to actively unenjoyable.

(Includes spoilers) A powerful action-drama about a local Mississippi rebellion against the Confederate rebellion, brought about by Southern corruption, conscripting men, and confiscating supplies and livestock, without reimbursement, in order to support the army in its fight for the Southern plantation system. The last straw for the main character, Newton Knight, superbly played by Matthew McConaughey, was the passing of the 20 slave law that exempted 1 white man for every 20 slaves--in order [Full review]