Free State of Jones - ACW movie (1 Viewer)

[BLReed]

Re: Free State of Jones

From the Mississippi Historical Society.
http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/309/newton-knight-and-the-legend-of-the-free-state-of-jones

 

[The Military Workshop]

This is showing in Oz next week but apparently opened in USA in June. Did anybody see it ?

 

[The Military Workshop]

Saw this earlier this evening. Probably "heavy""would describe it. Lucky I did not take my better half as she would not have enjoyed it.

An interesting story of a Confederate, Newton Knight, who set up his own state covering three counties in south-central Mississippi after being disillusioned with the war. His main motivation other than the futility of the war was to stop Confederate troops taking crops from poor farmers to supply the army. Initially he has to hide in a swamp but over time more deserters and run away slaves join him and he takes on the local Confederates and becomes a bit of a pain.

It also covers post war period with early activities of the Klu Klux Klan and his struggle to farm the land and help the freed slaves. Tough to be voting Republican in his local town in 1870's.

Also a sub story in the future (around 1960) where one of his descendants (1/8 African American) is on trial for marrying a white girl.

There are some good action sequences (ie. Confederate troops advancing against Union artillery and infantry) and later on when fighting against the local troops. However would have liked a bit more action overall.

Not a great movie but certainly thought provoking.

Although the plot of the movie is fiction, the overall story follows the history of Jones County, and many of the events portrayed are true.

Wikipedia says it got mixed reviews and doubt in cinema in USA anymore. If interested in ACW worth the time to watch it.

Wiki background on the character here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_Knight

 

[Fitzgibbon]

A really strong performance from Matthew Mcconaughey in a difficult role.
Thanks Brett for treating the diorama group to dinner and a movie.
A long and complex plot that probably proves that truth is stranger tha fiction, the story shows just how difficult it is to overcome pervasive ideology no matter how many times it is proven false. White deserters and runaway slaves unite against the threat to their homes from the monied minority. There is recognition that they are all in reality treated as slaves, white and black, and the struggle for freedom is familiar while the war rages.
But with the end of the war, the dominant ideology again holds sway, frustrating cultural change. Fast forward a century and that foolish ideology still grips the law in it's vice with tragic and bizarre consequences.
Doubtless the political landscape changed dramatically in the last 50 years, but the comment embedded in this plot begs us all to keep up the struggle for a freedom that is carefully considered rather than just consumed like breakfast cereal.
The entertainment factor gave a lot of ground to provocation and motivation but the acting was excellent. I'm inclined to give it three stars.

 

[Poppo]

Another disgusting ,political movie made of total historical distortion showing the the confederate army as a kind of nazi gangsters persecuting the southern citizens( the southerns hated the yankees instead,their enemies who destroyed their farms, lands!), no comment, just ridiculous...
The truth is that all the southerns were near their army and volounteered for it. They loved their generals and superiors. There was no strong hierarcy, because they were rebels and very independent in their spirit, but their deep conviction for defending their independence made them give their life for Dixieland.

I wonder why Hollywood and the american establishment keep on making movies showing the confederate army like a bunch of stupid criminals and their generals like criminals, all this is so unbeliveable to look simply ridiculous...

And even in the modern times movies, the southerns are always pictured as stupid peasants,violents, drunks, maniacs, retarded, serial killers, racists....