When It comes to Uprisings on the big screen, director Gary Ross is in familiar territory. In The Hunger Games he gave Katniss Everdean an unknown girl from District 12 her first steps to overthrow President Snow. For his latest film Free State Of Jones he has the help of Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey tells the incredible true story of Newton Knight and his rebellion against the Confederacy in Jones County, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. Watch the UK trailer now…
Free State of Jones is an epic drama set during the American Civil War and tells the story of defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight (Academy Award®-winner Matthew McConaughey), and his extraordinary rebellion against the Confederate States Army. Bringing together an unlikely band of poor white farmers and runaway slaves, Knight launched an uprising that led Jones County, Mississippi, to secede from the Confederacy, creating a Free State of Jones.
It’s amazing no matter what century or year, many bloody wars that have gone (or upon us)they have been seen as the ‘rich mans wars’ the common man fighting so that the rich man can stay rich. McConaughey’s character Newt says it in the trailer and even today many believe this will be the agenda of next war we will face. Apart from the political reasons behind war, it’s great to see Matthew McConaughey‘s career still in the middle of it’s own uprising. Despite the shaky reactions of the film Stateside he does look like he’ll deliver the goods once again.
One thing we sometimes forget when talking about film is the ability to give people a voice. A platform for unknown, unsung heroes of our history. The people whose small steps help mould nations, win justice or simply been heroes and Newt Knight’s one of those stories that deserves to seen on the big screen.
Directed by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville) and starring Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) and Mahershala Ali (House of Cards).Free State of Jones will be released in UK & Irish cinemas on September 30th.
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