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Title: Free State of Jones (2016)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Matthew McConaughey | ... | Newton Knight | |
| Gugu Mbatha-Raw | ... | Rachel | |
| Mahershala Ali | ... | Moses | |
| Keri Russell | ... | Serena | |
| Christopher Berry | ... | Jasper Collins | |
| Sean Bridgers | ... | Will Sumrall | |
| Jacob Lofland | ... | Daniel | |
| Thomas Francis Murphy | ... | Elias Hood | |
| Bill Tangradi | ... | Lt. Barbour | |
| Brian Lee Franklin | ... | Davis Knight | |
| Kerry Cahill | ... | Mary / Yeoman Farmer | |
| Joe Chrest | ... | James Eakins | |
| Jessica Collins | ... | Annie | |
| Donald Elise Watkins | ... | Wilson (as Donald Watkins) | |
| Jill Jane Clements | ... | Aunt Sally | |
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. Banding together with other small farmers and local slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones. Knight continued his struggle into Reconstruction, distinguishing him as a compelling, if controversial, figure of defiance long beyond the War. Written by STX Entertainment
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"It ain't my fight you know. Don't own no slaves. Ain't gonna die so they can get rich selling cotton." Newton Knight (McConaughey) lives in Mississippi and enlisted in the Civil War like everyone else did. His feelings about the fight begin to conflict with those of his superiors and when it reaches a breaking point he finally deserts, and joins a group of runaway slaves. More and more soldiers begin to join him until Knight decides enough is enough and him and his own army begin to stand up for what they believe in, against the Confederates. This is first off a very good movie. The story is true, interesting and important. On the other hand you have to look past what is on the surface to find the real important aspect and true meaning of the film. Yes, its about a man not believing in the cause of the war, but the real meaning and message deals with what happens after the war and what Knight did to advance the cause of the newly freed slaves. The movie is a type of Civil War Patriot, but to me this movie does more to show and describe the problems with reconstruction than any movie I have seen. The reconstruction issue is the real message of the movie and because of that I highly recommend this. Overall, a very good movie that is extremely important and shows how little the country has actually advanced since the 1860's. I give this a B+.