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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Film Review: Social History is Revitalized in ‘Free State of Jones’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2016 - 1:00pm
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”Free State of Jones” opens everywhere on June 24th. Featuring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell, Mahershala Ali and Bill Tangrad. Screenplay adapted and directed by Gary Ross. Rated “R”
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Free State of Jones”
Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey) Bears His Cross in ‘Free State of Jones’
Photo credit: STX Entertainment
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Free State of Jones”
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CHICAGO – The United States is still fighting the Civil War, which ended in 1865. The rebellious South has never completely given away its anger and sorrow for the changes the war has wrought on them. These larger themes are examined historically in the new film, “Free State of Jones.”
 Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
This is Matthew McConaughey at his finest, his performance as real history figure Newton Knight (that name could never be made up) is understated, subtle and respectful to the source. The direction by Gary Ross (“Seabiscuit”) – who also adapted the screenplay – creates an authentic atmosphere and cogent overview. But mostly this film speaks again to the struggle of the African American race in the U.S., and how a people that were brought here in chains, have never really been unchained as equal citizens in this country. As much as it is a film about Newton Knight, it also resonates as a lesson that has implications in these hard times.
Newton Knight (McConaughey) is a Confederate Army medic in 1862. After a relative is killed in the Civil War under his watch, he deserts the Army and goes back to his Mississippi home, where his wife Serena (Keri Russell) awaits. Knight has a price on his head, as deserters are routinely hunted down, often using the same dogs that hunt runaway slaves.
Knight is forced to flee into the swamps, where the troops can’t get to him. He is aided by Rachel (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), an intelligent house slave at a local plantation, and joins a group of runaway slaves in swamp exile – including the stoic and proud Moses (Mahershala Ali). Together, with other white army deserters, they build a new ‘State of Jones’ (county), and have to deal not only with the end of the war, but the difficult period of U.S. Reconstruction.
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Free State of Jones”Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey) Bears His Cross in ‘Free State of Jones’
Photo credit: STX Entertainment
Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Free State of Jones”
