The confederacy has instituted an unprecedented draft requiring all white men in the south. On october, 1863, a band of deserters from jones county and adjacent counties organized to protect the area from confederate authorities and the crippling tax collections. As it happens, the other day i got the opportunity to see one of the newest blockbusters on the scene, free state of jones. Colonel lowrys confederate raid on jones county pp. The free state of jones film, starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, and keri russell, will be released in may 2016. Matthew mcconaughey seethes with righteous fury in free state of jones, a tale based on an intriguing, littleknown chapter of civil war history that, despite impeccable intentions, becomes. This will be the second movie about the free state of jones. In 1862 mississippi, newton knight matthew mcconaughey serves in the confederate army, but not happily. Everything you need to know about free state of jones. 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. The first was the movie of the novel, tap roots by james street. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Downtown has some old brick buildings with wroughtiron balconies.
So often the acting and enacting are wooden, the makeup a few smears of mud on a face. Knight starts to question why hes fighting and for whom and, frankly, his purpose in a war that, to his eyes, benefits rich plantation owners who. Producer gary ross seabiscuit, pleasantville is slated to produce, direct and write an original screenplay for the forthcoming movie of the same name. Opposed to slavery, knight would rather help the wounded than fight the union. Free state of jones 2016 in 1863, mississippi farmer newt knight serves as a medic for the confederate army. 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. 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. Free state of jones not free of historical inaccuracies. This book covers the tactics of both the union and confederate armies and the guerrilla war conducted behind the lines by the racially integrated battalions of the free men of jones and is an excellent introduction to the story. The small southern county that seceded from the confederacy. 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.
Free state of jones is a war movie set during the american civil war about a real life group of rebels within the confederacy who decide to rebel. A disillusioned confederate army deserter returns to mississippi and leads a militia of fellow deserters, runaway slaves, and women in an uprising against the corrupt local confederate government. Calling themselves the knight company after their captain, newton knight, they set up headquarters in the swamps of the leaf river, where, legend has it, they declared the free state of jones. You can click on table header to sort results by column name. Free state of jones certainly looks and sounds right, and probably smells right toothese gunky mississippi battles and unwashed soldiers feel authentic. Free state of jones on dvd september 20, 2016 starring matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, keri russell, mahershala ali. 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. The jones county insurrectionists were neither abolitionists nor southern yankees, says victoria bynum, who wrote the 2001 book the free state of jones.
It may not be the ideal theater film, but it definitely is worthy of a hard copy for your bookdvd shelf. In the new film free state of jones, matthew mcconaughey plays confederate soldier newton knight, and depending on whom you ask, knight was either a hero or a traitor. Free state of jones 2 hours and 19 minutes movie 2016 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. In the end, the film free state of jones was not based on the book the free state of jones, but the book was used as a major resource, with bynum credited as a consultant. As if afraid to offend anyone or put a wrong foot in. If you like to get search results as rss after search, click on icon at bottom. What does not play so true is the production value of free state of jones. The company, led by newton knight, formed a separate government, with unionist leanings, known as the free state of jones, and fought a recorded 14 skirmishes with confederate forces. With matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell.
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. Mississippis longest civil war history vs hollywood, movie, book, audio book. If the facts are interesting change that in the film version. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner, who deserts from the confederate army and leads a biracial guerilla band hiding in the swamps has excited a great deal of interest because it challenges the long held myth of the lost. 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. The historical imagination and free state of jones the.
Still, the free state of jones is an antiwar film with a commie message that still glamorizes southern pride, hard work and the good book. The popular movie free state of jones starring matthew mcconaughey as newton knight, a nonslave owner, who deserts from the confederate army and leads a biracial guerilla band hiding in the swamps has excited a great deal of interest because it challenges the long held myth of the lost cause. Matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, keri russell. In 2001, my book, the free state of jones, was published by the university of north carolina press. The story of the jones county rebellion is well known among mississippians, and debate over whether the county actually seceded from the state during the war has smoldered for more than a century. 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. 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. I came to jones county having read some good books about its history, and knowing very little about its presentday reality. Significant, obscure in civil war history full disclosure. Written and directed by gary ross, the film stars matthew mcconaughey, gugu mbatharaw, mahershala ali, and keri russell it was released in the united states by stxfilms on june 24, 2016. In early 2007, universal studios purchased film rights to the book from the press.
The soontobe released movie the free state of jones is influenced more by the hollywoodnew york mindset and not on historical records, according to a southeastern louisiana university history professor. Between late 1863 and mid1864, an armed band of confederate deserters battled confederate cavalry in the piney woods region of jones county, mississippi. Free state of jones is an epic actiondrama set during the civil war, and tells the story of defiant southern farmer, newt knight, and his e. 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. Tout sur free state of jones bluray matthew mcconaughey gugu mbatharaw, bluray et toute lactualite en dvd et. Exploring the free state of jones and finding a grave. Movie in the works about the free state of jones civil. Free state of jones the movie was partly inspired by the. Years ago i worked with two direct descendants of newt. A compelling and littleknown story of the civil war period is studiously reduced to a dry and cautious history lesson in free state of jones. The free state of jones literary works of victoria bynum. For a period, however, it seemed that rosss researchwhich involved reading 40 to 50 books, he sayswould not result in a film. Free state of jones, the film directed by gary ross, powerfully and movingly recounts a significant episode of the american civil war, the insurrection against the.
Gary ross free state of jones is based on one of the most fascinating true stories of the civil war. The old county seat, and ground zero for the free state of jones, is ellisville, now a pleasant, leafy town of 4,500 people. The grand old columned courthouse has a confederate monument next to it. The free state of jones the free state of jones is one of the most gripping history books published in recent years. Adding further controversy to the legend is the story of newt knights interracial romance with his wartime accomplice, rachel, a slave. The true story of the free state of jones history smithsonian. Of course the book was a novel with names changed, etc.
873 21 12 609 1080 881 1241 1172 593 77 1624 1228 746 43 540 1255 96 778 826 344 1348 1285 511 1121 1049 1456 413 607 1161 550 154