Presentism, introducing presentday ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past, can infect the best efforts of moviemakers as well as historians. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. Morrison series in southern studies bynum, victoria e. Jun 24, 2016 based on a true story, free state of jones is a ponderous, overly ambitious, and melodramatic film that tries to cover too much history and fails as a result. The new civil war film free state of jones, starring matthew mcconaughey and gugu mbatharaw, is richly researched, but its flat assemblage of history strips out the storys texture and. Its a slow moving and uneven film that works best when it focuses on knight being a wanted deserter and becoming the southern robin hood of jones county, rising up against the confederacy and creating a rebellion. Mississippis longest civil war in 2003, years before the movie was made see more. It tells of a rebellion against the confederacy led by an angry farmer named newton knight, whose ragtag army of poor whites and escaped. A fictionalised account of the life of newton knight matthew mcconaughey, who deserts the confederate army after the 1862 battle of corinth. As free state of jones made its way to the big screen, bynum says she became less concerned with whether or not the filmor any film on a historical subjectadhered to the absolute facts or the precise narrative. Jun 24, 2016 read the free state of jones movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. Jun 23, 2016 free state of jones needed to blow the dust off history so that it stings for the here and now. 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.
Free state of jones was a book before it was a movie victoria e. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. It has oscarseason pretensions of significance it doesnt earn, but also lacks the bombast of a historical war epic like saving. Opposed to both slavery and secession, knight launched an uprising of poor white farmers that led jones county, mississippi to itself secede from the confederacy, creating a free state of jones. The free state of jones film analysis 1570 words cram. Free state of jones is a civil war drama about a man who is trying to help slaves.
What we get is a droning sermon that sacrifices urgent immediacy for moral rectitude. Jun 24, 2016 free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive combat action that has long been a staple of american movies. A new hollywood movie looks at the tale of the mississippi farmer who led a revolt against the confederacy. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the free. 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, independent and loyal to the union. The founding fathers guide to the constitution brion mcclanahan an article by article and clause by clause analysis of the constitution ratified by the founding generation of 1787 and 1788, a constitution quite different from what the political class in washington understands. Like in the movie, the battle and its casualties deepened the disillusionment that was. The free state of jones challenges the very core of lost cause history, bringing to life white landowning, nonslaveholding families who acted aggressively in their own interestsinterests that did not coincide with those of slaveholders. What does not play so true is the production value of free state of jones. Jul 14, 2016 free state of jones tells the story of newton knight matthew mcconaughey, a truetolife, nonslaveholding farmer from jones county, mississippi, who deserts from the confederate army, disgusted at the senseless brutality and the increasing pressure on poor men to fight a war that served the interests of wealthy slaveholders.
Free state of jones 2016 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. As if afraid to offend anyone or put a wrong foot in. Free state of jones begins on the battlefield, with a flurry of the kind of immersive. 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. As it happens, the other day i got the opportunity to see one of the newest blockbusters on the scene, free state of jones. Newt deserted the confederate army after the death of his nephew and returned to his family in jones to only see that the local government was overtaxing farmers and families. Free state of jones the movie the new state of jones. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes. Free state of jones tells the story of a knightled rebellion against the confederacy in jones county, mississippi, whereby the county allegedly seceded and declared itself a free state. 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. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones. Based on the true story of southern farmer newt knight mcconaughey, the movie has now officially entered its production stage of development, according to the press release issued by financier stx entertainment.
Matthew mcconaughey stars as newton knight, the mississippi farmer who led a rebellion against the confederacy from the inside with the. Jun 24, 2016 gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. 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. Analytical essay analysis of the historical significance of the film free state of jones beniam yoseph the historical film free state of jones. Mississippis heritage is rich in folklore that few regions throughout the country can rival, and the story of newton knight and the free state of jones is no exception. Sep 10, 2001 significant, obscure in civil war history full disclosure. The historical imagination and free state of jones the. 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. 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. Jun 20, 2016 in 1862, when free state of jones begins, newton knight is just an anonymous battleweary medical nurse, up to his elbows in carnage, who ducks out of combat to take the corpse of a young. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than fight the union. Written and directed by gary ross, the film revolves around the true story of newton knight played by matthew mcconaughey.
A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government. So often the acting and enacting are wooden, the makeup a few smears of mud on a face. Free state of jones 2016 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The free state of jones official movie source page. Starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell, christopher barry, sean bridgers, and jacob lofland. Free state of jones, stx entertainment, 9 minutes, 2016. Matthew mcconaughey rebels against rebels in free state of jones. The historical imagination and free state of jones the new yorker. His relationship and postwar marriage to a former slave, rachel knight, effectively established the regions first mixedrace community. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years. Free state of jones is a 2016 film chronicling the littleknown story of newton knight played by matthew mcconaughey, a white farmer in mississippi who led an armed revolt by disgruntled farmers and escaped slaves against the confederacy during the american civil war. Overall, the book offers an impartial look at the historical complexities that make up the southeastern piney woods section of mississippi, how they have affected its people to this day, and how a large cast of characters are influenced by the vagaries of culture.
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. Newton knight and the legend of the free state of jones lesson plan. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. Free state of jones has the noblest of intentions, but they arent enough to make up for its stilted treatment of a fascinating reallife story. Jun 22, 2016 free state of jones is an odd film to release in the summer. The historical film free state of jones depicts the life and events of newt knight during the american civil war. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies. Bynum said that daniel jacob lofland, the character newton knight matthew mcconaughey tries to protect in battle, is at best a composite of various 7th battalion men who were killed at the battle of corinth. Jun 20, 2016 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.
Free state of jones 2016 in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. This rebellion against the southern republic centered on the infamous twenty negro law that exempted large slaveowners from the draft, raising the cry rich mans war, poor mans fight. The american civil war was a time of severe devastation. Dismissed by their proconfederate detractors as treasonous poor whites, outlaws, and cowards, the men and. Jul 12, 2016 in the wake of the fourth of july, its only natural that we as a society ring in our cultural values and proclaim exactly just how proud we are to be american.
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