FREE STATE OF JONES
space
In 1862, there was something horribly rotten in the state of Mississippi.
In 1862, there was something horribly rotten in the state of Mississippi.
space
space
The Civil War was raging on all fronts and in the middle of the action was Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club), a poor farmer from Jones County serving as a battlefield medic. Harrowing scenes follow. When his young nephew is slaughtered in the crossfire, he deserts his post, returns to his family and soon deserts them too (for their own protection). He holes up in a swamp where others are also hoping to ride out the war, for better or worse. Thus begins this fascinating true story of one man’s fight against ridiculous forces.
Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit and The Hunger Games) has crafted a history lesson that is as entertaining as it is informative and inspirational. Knight was a reluctant radical, years ahead of both time and place. A born Southerner with Yankee sensibilities, he’d broke neither racism, sexism nor slavery as an ad-hoc army formed about him, like minded ‘deserters’ who sought to push back opportunistic Confederates who were frightening their women and ransacking their lands. The Free State of Jones was declared.
McConaughey is a charismatic presence and eschews his mumbling ways to create an engaging version of Knight. Everything about this man’s story is remarkable. McConaughey is ably supported by a strong cast and the exquisite camera work of Benoît Delhomme (The Theory of Everything) underpins the action, especially in the swamp. Although Ross’s script becomes a little episodic in the final act, drawing out what is already a long run at 140minutes, his repeat throw to the 1960’s (flash forward to a descendant of Knight fighting racial discrimination laws – oh the irony) helps keep things humming along for most of the film’s duration.
// COLIN FRASER
Previewed at Sony Theatre, Sydney, on 22 August 2016.
Director Gary Ross (Seabiscuit and The Hunger Games) has crafted a history lesson that is as entertaining as it is informative and inspirational. Knight was a reluctant radical, years ahead of both time and place. A born Southerner with Yankee sensibilities, he’d broke neither racism, sexism nor slavery as an ad-hoc army formed about him, like minded ‘deserters’ who sought to push back opportunistic Confederates who were frightening their women and ransacking their lands. The Free State of Jones was declared.
McConaughey is a charismatic presence and eschews his mumbling ways to create an engaging version of Knight. Everything about this man’s story is remarkable. McConaughey is ably supported by a strong cast and the exquisite camera work of Benoît Delhomme (The Theory of Everything) underpins the action, especially in the swamp. Although Ross’s script becomes a little episodic in the final act, drawing out what is already a long run at 140minutes, his repeat throw to the 1960’s (flash forward to a descendant of Knight fighting racial discrimination laws – oh the irony) helps keep things humming along for most of the film’s duration.
// COLIN FRASER
Previewed at Sony Theatre, Sydney, on 22 August 2016.
space
space
STARRING
Matthew McConaughey
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Kerri Russell
Christopher Berry
DIRECTOR
Gary Ross
WRITER
Gary Ross
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
MA15+
RUNTIME
139 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
August 25, 2016
Matthew McConaughey
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Kerri Russell
Christopher Berry
DIRECTOR
Gary Ross
WRITER
Gary Ross
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
MA15+
RUNTIME
139 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
August 25, 2016
space
space
