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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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 115 Ratings

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7.1

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7.1	Your Score
7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 115 Ratings

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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

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Awards & Rankings

96	#96 Most Discussed Movie of 2016
97	#97 Most Shared Movie of 2016

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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

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User Reviews

jaxxbo

Jul 4, 2016

DO NOT AGREE. Great American struggle. By the film interlacing of Newton's revolt with the ongoing, lingering "legal" racism, which bled into the next Century - simply a great film & great filming making.
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This Jones event within the context of our hypocritical "free country" -DO NOT AGREE. Great American struggle. By the film interlacing of Newton's revolt with the ongoing, lingering "legal" racism, which bled into the next Century - simply a great film & great filming making.
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This Jones event within the context of our hypocritical "free country" - these sub-chapters in our Nation's history. like that of Edward Coles - yes, part of it was bad (really bad), BUT, there've been some great humans, struggling to live by a higher set of morals. I salute them and those who document their actions.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

filmL0ver

Jun 27, 2016

I'm a huge history fan, so of course I've seen this movie twice already! And checked out their website where you can learn even more about the story and the history of it all (talk about going above and beyond for their movie!). My only fault with this movie is that Matthew McConaugheyI'm a huge history fan, so of course I've seen this movie twice already! And checked out their website where you can learn even more about the story and the history of it all (talk about going above and beyond for their movie!). My only fault with this movie is that Matthew McConaughey doesn't look like his usual sexy self, but I guess that is fair (loved him in "Magic Mike! haha). You gotta check out the end where they show a picture of Newton Knight and it is chilling how similar Matthew looks to the real Newt! Pretty sure he was born to play this role. The lead girl, Gugu, is great too. She is awesome in "Beyond the Lights" so check her out in that after you see "Free State." This isn't one of those boring history movies- they back up a cool true story with gorgeous shots, phenomenal acting, and beautiful music. Love love love this movie.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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 13 users found this helpful94

HealingToolbox

May 16, 2018

Another gem of history transposed to film, a window into history. A dozen historians contributed to the accuracy of the details. This is the Civil War and Reconstruction as THE American tragedy. Be prepared to watch a lot of characters suffering. Acting and production design is near orAnother gem of history transposed to film, a window into history. A dozen historians contributed to the accuracy of the details. This is the Civil War and Reconstruction as THE American tragedy. Be prepared to watch a lot of characters suffering. Acting and production design is near or at the level of Spielberg. Probably unknown to most viewers is numerous communal, cross-racial, intentional communities were tried in the late 1800s. This was one of them. This film was probably a labor love for all involved.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lone_Wolf_Sones

Aug 7, 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

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Spangle

Sep 11, 2016

Free State of Jones commits a few key sins, but for me, I really do not care. Yes, it is a bit long. Yes, it does love speeches. Yes, it does cover too much. Yes, interspersing scenes from the future kills the flow of the plot, even if it continues the thematic elements of the film. Yes, itFree State of Jones commits a few key sins, but for me, I really do not care. Yes, it is a bit long. Yes, it does love speeches. Yes, it does cover too much. Yes, interspersing scenes from the future kills the flow of the plot, even if it continues the thematic elements of the film. Yes, it probably does simplify more than a few things. All that said, I still really liked this film.

As I greatly enjoy history and have long craved a new film about the Civil War, I was just about to accept any drivel to make me truly satisfied. Fortunately, this one fits the bill and is slightly better than drivel. Matthew McConaughey turns in a typically charismatic and cool performance as a man I would follow to the end of the Earth and jump through a brick wall if he told me to. Not even as Newton Knight, either. I would jump off a bridge if McConaughey told me to without regret or shame.

A sprawling and ambitious attempt to not only cover the story of Newton Knight, but also the period just before and right after the end of the Civil War in the South including topics such as apprenticeship, the rise of the KKK, inter-racial love, voting, literacy, "emancipation", and reconstruction. This often untold area of the Civil War is told very well in Free State of Jones, even if its jumping through time a bit is a clunky way of approaching the topics. That said, each scene it does show covers the topics it sets out to cover very well and accomplishes its main goal: to inform. Even better, it not just informs, but it entertains with tense and well-constructed action sequences that capture the look and feel of the Civil War. If nothing else, Gary Ross did his homework and that is truly admirable.

Though the general plots expansiveness could have been better handled, Ross does a great job balancing his characters. Focusing in one people from different worlds, he does a good job developing the major players, especially Knight (McConaughey), Rachel (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and Moses (Mahershala Ali). These characters really have good chemistry with one another and are largely well-written.

The production design and costume design is another major win for Free State of Jones. With shocking attention to detail from the swamps of Mississippi to the battlefield, the film is masterfully crafted. The costume design for the uniforms and clothing is terrific and really impressive with its period detail. This, in addition to the characters, is where the film's bread and butter can really be found. Ross' ability to create well-developed characters and attention to detail is really evident in these two areas and why I found the film to be better than expected.

On the negative side, Free State of Jones' use of the future case does further its examination of the power of prejudice. I mean, Newton's great-great-great grandson looks white, yet the fact that Newton had a child with Rachel means that he cannot marry the white woman he is in love with. Many took issue with the film supposedly mirroring the struggle of blacks with those of whites, but to me, it is not doing that. Instead, it is showcasing how deep and far this prejudice go. For all intents and purposes his great-great-great grandson is white. Yet, in the chance he any black in him, he must go to jail for trying to marry a white woman. Incredible stuff that shows how deeply hatred runs. Unfortunately, Ross has no idea how to work this into the film and the scenes play far too briefly and with little emotional impact. Instead, they are like blips that break up the rest of the film.

Overall, Matthew McConaughey is very good in this film destined to be shown in history classes across the nation. An untold story from the Civil War, the story of Newton Knight and Jones County is an inspirational one of fighting for what you believe in. Though it is a bit long and could have been told better, the acting, characters, and production/costume design more than elevate this one in a well told history film. Above all, I am more than willing to accept this film to try and fill my craving for more historically-based films, especially ones from the Civil War.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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.

3 of 12 users found this helpful39

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