Free State of Jones

Name: Free State of Jones
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Released: June 24, 2016
Duration: 139 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, Matthew McConaughey

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

See All

7.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Free State Of Jones

Now Playing: Free State Of Jones

Movie Details & Credits

STX Entertainment | Release Date: June 24, 2016 | R

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

Summary: 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 StateSet 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.… Expand

Director: Gary Ross

Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, History, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 139 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Jun 23, 2016

This is no history lesson, but it’s mainstream Hollywood entertainment that respects the history and seems to invite discussion and debate. Read full review

Ty Burr

Jun 23, 2016

The result is rather a mess, but it’s an honorable one, and very much worth wrestling with. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jun 24, 2016

In supporting roles, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Rachel, the equally valiant house slave Newton makes his common-law wife, and Mahershala Ali as Moses, the leader of the renegade slaves, provide some powerful moments. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Jun 21, 2016

A compelling and little-known story of the Civil War period is studiously reduced to a dry and cautious history lesson in Free State of Jones. Read full review

The Film Stage Jordan Raup

Jun 23, 2016

Free State of Jones has a story worth telling, it just doesn’t know how to effectively do so. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Jun 22, 2016

As it is, Newt Knight, the forward-thinking white liberal, is the only character with whom we might connect. And that’s a shame because this compelling episode of American defiance is so much richer than that. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jun 23, 2016

Like the worst civics lesson, this movie bores away at you till your reactions are dulled. Read full review

SEE ALL 38 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Eilidh2

Jul 3, 2016

Metacritic: the same person has obviously posted with several different user names negative reviews (0) for this one and positive reviews for Independence Day (10) over and over. Allowing a troll to stick up several reviews obviously renders users' reviews nonsensical. Not to mention theMetacritic: the same person has obviously posted with several different user names negative reviews (0) for this one and positive reviews for Independence Day (10) over and over. Allowing a troll to stick up several reviews obviously renders users' reviews nonsensical. Not to mention the person obviously hasn't even seen this movie.… Expand

9 of 15 users found this helpful96

kerryk

Jul 16, 2016

such a great movie. Very moving and gives a realistic view of what was going in the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Incredible true story which combined a war movie, a love story and an examination of the politics which deprived African Americans of their rights and made poorsuch a great movie. Very moving and gives a realistic view of what was going in the South during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Incredible true story which combined a war movie, a love story and an examination of the politics which deprived African Americans of their rights and made poor whites fight a rich man's war to protect the wealth of the planters who controlled the Confederacy. Real eye-opener. Oscar worthy performances from Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali and Gugu Mbatha.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

moviefan19

Jun 27, 2016

A great movie and an awesome true story too! Newton Knight was definitely ahead of his time. Plus, the studio made a website where you can fact check! freestateofjones.info Put that in your pipe and smoke it! How can people say this movie inaccurate?! Seriously, before writing a review justA great movie and an awesome true story too! Newton Knight was definitely ahead of his time. Plus, the studio made a website where you can fact check! freestateofjones.info Put that in your pipe and smoke it! How can people say this movie inaccurate?! Seriously, before writing a review just saying that a movie is "crap," maybe try actually watching the movie and doing your own research.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

TMac215

Oct 13, 2018

Free State of Jones is a story based on true event during the American Civil War. It takes place in the Confederacy in the Southern state of Mississippi. Matthew McConaughey plays a soldier who treats the wounded but ends up “deserting” his unit after a boy he knows gets killed in battle.Free State of Jones is a story based on true event during the American Civil War. It takes place in the Confederacy in the Southern state of Mississippi. Matthew McConaughey plays a soldier who treats the wounded but ends up “deserting” his unit after a boy he knows gets killed in battle. After forming a ragtag militia he becomes a thorn in the side of a Southern LT who steals food and supplies from locals who’s are barely getting by to begin with. This is a Robin Hood” type of story set in the 1800s.
I think it’s pretty well acted with a bit of action here and there’s. It is definitely a bit long but I enjoyed watching it... The only thing I didn’t like was a trial they kept flashing back and forth to throughout The movie. I definitely thought they could’ve done without! All in all I feel it’s a decent film and if you like period piece movies, especially the Civil War, I think you will enjoy this flick!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

LoneWolfSones

Jul 4, 2016

Free State of Jones is a compelling drama that tells one of the lesser known stories of the Civil War. Matthew McConaughey plays the role of Newt Knight a Mississippi farmer that is disillusioned with the Confederate cause. McConaughey offers a solid performance and lends gravitas to some ofFree State of Jones is a compelling drama that tells one of the lesser known stories of the Civil War. Matthew McConaughey plays the role of Newt Knight a Mississippi farmer that is disillusioned with the Confederate cause. McConaughey offers a solid performance and lends gravitas to some of the monologues given by his character.

Deserters? Bushwackers? Freedom Fighters? These are all terms that could be used to describe Knights' band of citizen soldiers which are a ragtag assortment of former soldiers and runaway slaves. The film is respectful of the history behind its source material and creates some incredible thought provoking scenes. How the film manages to juggle these themes is not flawless however. There are several jump cuts between the 1800's and the 1950-60's. Despite this I do understand why the director may have chose to do this in an attempt to juxtapose the struggles of the past with those of Knights' descendants.

At its best the film offers a poignant portrayal of a darker period in our nation's history by highlighting a group of people who fought for a better world and for what was theirs. Its unfortunate that at times the film seems to buckle under its own weight giving the impression the director may have struggled by trying to tell a broader narrative than it had to be.

If you are looking for action scenes, the film does have them though the battles are fairly limited in terms of screen time. They are shot well but ultimately don't carry the weight that the dialogue and other elements of the film do.

Free State of Jones is not a perfect film but is still ultimately a riveting watch despite its stumbles.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

GreatMartin

Jun 24, 2016

Matthew McConaughey is a powerful actor in a powerful role but “Free State of Jones” is not as powerful a screenplay, by Gary Ross, as it could have, should have been. All the elements are there from the story being based on a not too well known chapter in American history that includes theMatthew McConaughey is a powerful actor in a powerful role but “Free State of Jones” is not as powerful a screenplay, by Gary Ross, as it could have, should have been. All the elements are there from the story being based on a not too well known chapter in American history that includes the Civil War, slaves being mistreated by owners, inter-racial lovers, voting rights, KKK attacking, the poor who are fighting the war so the rich can get richer, a band of escaped slaves, a time in the future when a man is put on trial for marrying a white woman because he may be part black and just after that scene the film doesn’t go into the high you would not only expect but want.

The idea of a band of people calling a section of their State, here the Free State of Jones, and how that is done or would work is passed over just as what the slaves and poor white people have in common enough to unite and go against those in charge.

Gary Ross, who also directed the film, tries to stick to the facts of history and, in most cases, stays away from over dramatizing those scenes that might have been more moving, for instance the coupling of white, married Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey) and black slave Rachel (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who give birth to a son and, due to reversals in fortune, his wife (Keri Russell), along with his first son, comes to live with them.

McConaughey continues his winning streak of strong characters but here he applies the strength that is only hinted at by the director and writer, while the depth of his relationship with Rachel is helped by the subtle playing of Gugu Mbatha-Raw who, after “Belle” and “Beyond the Lights” should be a huge star. Mahershala Ali, who names himself Moses, starts with a repulsive iron necklace with spears eventually removed by McConaughey, and winds up in one of the most shocking scenes of the film.

The cast, with many speaking parts, is an honest look at all sexes, ages, social strata most of who made up the armies of the Civil War. The swamp, filmed in Louisiana, provides some breath taking scenes.

“Free State of Jones” will show many viewers a part of American history not too well known, contains strong performances but at 140 minutes could have been tightened by eliminating the courtroom scenes that take place in the late 1940s making for a tighter, faster moving and, possibly, allowed some room to add emotional scenes as even most of the death moments offer nothing.… Expand

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

RickyReviews

Jun 25, 2016

McConaughey's worst in my opinion. The film is inaccurate, full of profanity and gore, and just plain out depressing. I would skip this film and watch something else.

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

SEE ALL 48 REVIEWS

97	#97 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
97	#97 Most Shared Movie of 2016