Free State of Jones (2016)
Details:
Director: Gary Ross
Writers: Leonard Hartman (story), Gary Ross
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Country: USA
Language: English
Release Date: 24 June 2016 (USA)
Also Known As: El valiente
Filming Locations: Jones County, Mississippi, USA
Plot Keywords: civil war | u.s. civil war | american civil war
Taglines: Proof can they are never forget
Genres: Action | Biography | Drama | History | War
Production Co: Bluegrass Films, Huayi Brothers Media,
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Storyline and Review:
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
Matthew McConaughey is on a roll right now, as he's been picking projects both prestigious and profitable over the past couple of years. With Interstellar behind him and The Sea Of Trees ahead for some time this year, the Academy Award-winner also already has a film lined up for next March – and today we have our first look. Judging by this still from The Free State Of Jones, it looks like it could be the continuation of the streak that the we've come to know as, "the McConaissance."
Rounding out the cast of The Free State Of Jones is The Americans' Keri Russell, as Newton's wife, Serena; as well as Belle's Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Newton's lover and eventual second wife, Rachel. Both women know their way around historical period pieces, and both sound like they'll be an absolute delight to see paired off with Matthew McConaughey. What's interesting about The Free State Of Jones is the fact that it's one of those historical films that tells a story that while being a part of history, isn't very well known by a lot of people. It's easy to make another movie about Abraham Lincoln and the battle of Gettysburg, but blazing a historical trail in the film industry is something that can easily be saluted.
However, it could also very easily be feared, as one wrong detail or one false note could send the whole film back to being ranked as an amateur in a business that sadly tends to favor familiarity over uniqueness. That is, if anyone sees The Free State Of Jones, considering it's being released at a rather inopportune time. The March 2016 release date is a little bit of a troubling sign for The Free State Of Jones, particularly with its lack of a major studio backing it for distribution thus far and Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice opening a week and a half after it. Unless it’s really great, this flick could be forgotten as quickly as it's released. But another factor to keep in mind is the fact that Gary Ross' last directorial effort, The Hunger Games, also found itself released in an off season release date with a similarly modest budget.
For now, The Free State Of Jones looks to take aim at history on March 16th, 2016.
