Free State of Jones (2016)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Free State of Jones has the noblest of intentions, but they aren't enough to make up for its stilted treatment of a fascinating real-life story.
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Cast
as Newton Knight
as Rachel
as Serena Knight
as Moses Washington
as Daniel
as Sumrall
as Annie
as Junie Lee
as Jasper Collins
as Col. Robert Lowry
as Elias Hood
as Lt. Barbour
as Davis Knight
as Mary/Yeoman Farmer
as James Eakins
as Wilson
as Aunt Sally
as Ward
as Chester
as George
as Jesse
as Malachi
as Older Coleman Brother
as Defense Attorney
as Whittington
as Court Clerk
as Judge
as Mabel Ely
as Polling Station Clerk
as Woman in Courtroom
as Leonidas Polk
as Mrs. Coleman
as Margaret
as Injured Soldier
as Union Official
as Joseph Collins
as Orderly/Crying Soldier
as Sergeant Battlefield
as Second Woman/Yeoman Farmer
as Mrs. Eakins
as Old Man
as Boy/Alice Hotel
as Isaac
as Moses' Wife
as Overseer
as Cotton Field Worker
as First Man
as Second Man
as Freedman
as Freedman
as Freedman
as Farmer
as Farmer
as Yeoman Girl
as Yeoman Girl
as Yeoman Girl
as Lt. Jensen
as Merchant
as Younger Coleman Brother
as Daniel Whitehead
as Newt's Son
as Eakins Daughter
as Joseph
as Bearded Soldier
as Susie Mae
as Barn Farmer
as Barbour's Wagon Driver
as Nurse
as Jed
as Surgeon
as Cornfield Woman
as Cornfield Woman
as Eakins Daughter
as Eakins' Daughter
as Lookout Kid
as Hardware Store Clerk
as Shrieking Woman
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Critic Reviews for Free State of Jones
All Critics (183) | Top Critics (36) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (99) | DVD (1)
A better film would have muddled the clean white-savior narrative with an actual exploration of what the racial politics of a mixed-race insurgency in the South might have been like.
It certainly looks and sounds right, and probably smells right too -- these gunky Mississippi battles and unwashed soldiers feel authentic. The problem, as with McConaughey's performance, is that you always do feel it.
The director and screenwriter Gary Ross illuminates immense historical spans with the true story of one man's revolt during the Civil War.
Ross bit off more than he can chew... the story lolls and wallows in wartime violence and the rebellion, then rushes through the horrors and trauma of Reconstruction.
A Civil War rebellion becomes an enervating movie by Gary Ross.
As inherently astonishing and powerful as this little-known episode is, it has not been well-served by Ross' lumpy, ill-conceived script, which ends up wasting Matthew McConaughey's terrific lead performance and other strong acting contributions.
Audience Reviews for Free State of Jones
Matthew McConaughey stars in the extraordinarily compelling biopic the Free State of Jones. The film follows the life of Newt Knight, a medic in the Confederate Army who deserted to protect his hometown from looters and ended up leading a rebellion made up of deserters and runaway slaves. McConaughey gives an excellent performance and brings a lot of charisma to the film. However, the storytelling is a bit problematic, as it takes on too much; skipping around a lot and working in a subplot about Newt's great-grandson. However, the production values are especially good, giving an authentic look and feel for the time period. And the drama is really intense and exciting. Free State of Jones has a few problems, but overall it's a compelling film about a fascinating piece of American history.
Super Reviewer
The film isn't perfect and some of the supporting cast let the film drag at times. The court room snippets didn't work and often left little to the overall film, that battle deserves a film on its own merits. I can't see why this was released in summer, the film died horribly when other films successfully limped along. The strong areas work so well and the aftermath of the battle for Jones is heartbreaking. There is a great film here but its smothered by unneeded influence by the director Ross. This deserves an audience.
Super Reviewer
"Free State of Jones" is an interesting history lesson -- although lacking the panache and dynamism of an actual history lesson. The script is plodding and unfocued, and the story is puzzlingly episodic. The costumes and locations are good, but McConaughey oozes contemporary morality and seems ill-suited for this period piece. The only noticably good acting was from Mahershala Ali. The film might have as lief been entitled "Talent-Free State of Jones". Spend your ticket money on popcorn and just hang out in the theater lobby, kids. This one's a stinker.
Super Reviewer
Free State of Jones Quotes
| Newton Knight: | From this day forward we declare the land of Pascagoula swamp to be a free state of jones. |