Free State of Jones
Free State of Jones

Free State of Jones

2016Movie140 minEnglish

In 1863, Mississippi farmer Newt Knight serves as a medic for the Confederate Army. Opposed to slavery, Knight would rather help the wounded than fight the Union. After his nephew dies in battle, Newt returns home to Jones County to safeguard his family but is soon branded an outlaw deserter. Forced to flee, he finds refuge with a group of runaway slaves hiding out in the swamps. Forging an alliance with the slaves and other farmers, Knight leads a rebellion that would forever change history.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes47%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users56% liked this movie
Director: Gary RossGenres: War, Drama, History, Western

Plot Summary

In Jones County, Mississippi, farmer Newton Knight grows disillusioned with the Confederacy during the Civil War. He deserts the army and, joined by other deserters and escaped slaves, leads an armed rebellion against the Confederate government. This uprising establishes the "Free State of Jones," a significant act of defiance within the South that has lasting repercussions.

Critical Reception

Free State of Jones received mixed to negative reviews from critics, who generally found its historical narrative compelling but criticized its pacing, uneven tone, and the handling of its complex themes. While praised for McConaughey's performance and its attempt to shed light on a lesser-known aspect of the Civil War, many felt the film fell short of its ambitious goals.

What Reviewers Say

  • Matthew McConaughey delivers a strong performance as the lead.
  • The film attempts to highlight an important and underrepresented historical event.
  • Pacing issues and an uneven narrative prevent the film from fully realizing its potential.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a mixed reception, with many appreciating the historical subject matter and McConaughey's performance. However, some viewers found the film's story to be slow or unevenly told, and a portion expressed disappointment with its overall execution.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in and around its actual historical setting, including locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, to authentically capture the period and atmosphere of the story.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Quality film. <em>'Free State of Jones'</em> tells the true story of Newton Knight's role in the American Civil War. As you'd hope/expect, it leads to captivating viewing. Matthew McConaughey is superb, while he's supported excellently b...
Reno

Reno

**A country that existed for a brief time in the history of American.** Once again, it proves that the critics are so dumb. In this people to people and people to filmmakers contact era, no one listens to them. Let them do their own side...