Release Year: 2016

Rating: 6.1/10 ( voted)

Critic's Score: /100

Director: Gary Ross

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali

Storyline
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. 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. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War.

Writers: Leonard Hartman, Gary Ross, Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Keri Russell, Christopher Berry, Sean Bridgers, Jacob Lofland, Thomas Francis Murphy, Bill Tangradi, Brian Lee Franklin, Kerry Cahill, Joe Chrest, Jessica Collins, Donald Watkins, Jill Jane Clements, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cast:
Matthew McConaughey - Newton Knight
Gugu Mbatha-Raw - Rachel
Mahershala Ali - Moses
Keri Russell - Serena
Christopher Berry - Jasper Collins
Sean Bridgers - Will Sumrall
Jacob Lofland - Daniel
Thomas Francis Murphy - Elias Hood
Bill Tangradi - Lt. Barbour
Brian Lee Franklin - Davis Knight
Kerry Cahill - Mary / Yeoman Farmer
Joe Chrest - James Eakins
Jessica Collins - Annie
Donald Watkins - Wilson
Jill Jane Clements - Aunt Sally

Taglines: Based on the incredible true story.

Official Website: Official Facebook | Official Site |

Country: USA

Language: English

Release Date: 3 Jan 2016

Filming Locations: Jones County, Mississippi, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $50,000,000 (estimated)

Runtime: 139 min

Trivia:
The "Free State of Jones" was not the only area of its kind - i.e., a southern region that opposed and/or threatened to secede from the Confederacy. There were also the Nickajack region of North Alabama and East Tennessee, the State of Scott in North Tennessee, Searcy County in Arkansas, and the Republic of Winston in North Alabama. See more »

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Rating: 9/10

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 to prevent a slave rebellion what with so many white males being off to war. It's a gritty depiction of the sordid underbelly of an already corrupt slave economy. It's a reminder, as if we needed one, of the reprehensible conditions some of our ancestors (on both sides) imposed on their society; but neither justifies either hate or guilt this far removed from it or the Jim Crow laws. It also depicts the courageous good things that others got right. The end of the movie balances things with a political statement when it shows a mixed-race group, armed with guns I must add, marching into town on election day and demanding Republican ballots. It's easy to forget that Lincoln and the Abolitionists were Republicans; while Klansmen (including "former" Klansmen) occupied some of our highest offices, and were allied with Democrats into the 21st Century.

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