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      Matewan

      1987, History/Drama, 2h 12m

      34 Reviews 2,500+ Ratings

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      Matewan  Photos

      Matewan (1987) Matewan (1987) John Sayles writer-director of MATEWAN. John Sayles writer-director of MATEWAN. James Earl Jones ("Few Clothes") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. James Earl Jones ("Few Clothes") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Chris Cooper ("Joe") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Chris Cooper ("Joe") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Josh Mostel ("Cabell") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. Josh Mostel ("Cabell") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. David Strathairn ("Sid") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. David Strathairn ("Sid") in a scene from MATEWAN directed by John Sayles. "Matewan photo 7" "Matewan photo 8" "Matewan photo 9" "Matewan photo 10"

      Movie Info

      Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper), a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson (James Earl Jones) and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.

      • Rating: PG-13

      • Genre: History, Drama

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: John Sayles

      • Producer: Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi

      • Writer: John Sayles

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Rerelease Date (Theaters):

      • Release Date (DVD):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $23.9K

      • Runtime:

      • Production Co: Film Gallery, Goldcrest Films, Ltd., Red Dog Films, Cinecom Entertainment Group

      • Sound Mix: Stereo

      Cast & Crew

      Chris Cooper
      Will Oldham
      James Earl Jones
      Bob Gunton
      Josh Mostel
      Mark Balsam
      Amir Jacob Malin
      Jerry Silva
      Mason Daring
      Haskell Wexler
      Sonya Polonsky
      Nora Chavooshian
      Dan Bishop
      Leslie Pope
      Cynthia Flynt
      James Sarzotti
      James Sarzotti
      Peggy Rajski
      Matia Karrell

      News & Interviews for Matewan

      Critic Reviews for Matewan

      Audience Reviews for Matewan

      • Feb 04, 2020
        Sayles strikes the right balance of realism and hope here. Per usual he assembles one hell of a cast.
        Super Reviewer
      • Oct 25, 2009
        Caught this on late night cable. Fantastic film on all levels. It looks great and has some amazing performances. It is everything that I love about John Sayles. It seems like every movie he makes is a social studies project (not that it's always a good thing) and you always learn about something from his films. I didn't know anything about this event and it made it more riveting. Bob Gunton, Chris Cooper (in his film debut), and James Earl Jones are brilliant.
        Super Reviewer
      • Feb 22, 2008
        Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones and Mary McDonnell each do a good job in this John Sayles piece on the growth of the labor union into the West Virginia coal mines of the 1920's. But, I may have set my expectations for the film a bit too high. Maybe it was meant as a warm-up for Sayles, David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe, Jace Alexander and Gordon Clapp prior to their collaboration of the following year...Eight Men Out.
        Super Reviewer
      • Jun 29, 2007
        An amazingly authentic film with great performances, photography and production design. Sayles work here is stellar, can't wait to read the book.
        Super Reviewer

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