There are times when shameful dark corners of American History are exposed for what they are. In this era of the remake, at least this one is the first time around. Ironically, the trailers at this one run for the remake of The Birth Of A Nation. That is because the remake is not even using the novel of Dixon's and is a feature for Armie Hammer of fully written dramatic fiction. The silent The Birth of a Nation is based on Thomas Dixon Jr. novel "The Klansman" which is a Romantic work of fiction made into a classic by D W Griffith.
I went out and looked at this Smithsonian reference for some information about this story Newton Knight. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-free-state-jones- 180958111/?no-ist
Unlike other films based upon real characters during the Civil War like John Wayne's Dark Command (1940), this film has a very realistic dramatic feel to it. The film has a large cast but other than Newton Knight, this is a cast of little recognition, yet. Considering this film, some of the folks here could become stars later on.
The story is really a drama with few punches pulled about how terrible it was to be in Jones County, Ms during the Civil War. The shame of the real crisis that was the United States and the Confederate States comes through strongly. There was very much wrong with the country and Newton Knight was a leader who lived through it. He becomes that leader not by choice, but by circumstances.
He takes refuge in a swamp to get away from evil Confederate soldiers during the war and then after it, he has more trouble wih the Klu Klux Klan, and the Union which won the war. He is portrayed here as a very not typical Southerner, who deserts the Confederate Army and is shocked at what he finds back home when he gets there.
The reason I feel this straight drama is not for the critics is that it is told a bit long and most of them are looking for more action. This movie is more drama and story telling and it is done right. I actually feel this movie is better being long as it gets to tell the story better.
Is it totally true? At times the script takes some leaps away from fact, but the facts here are not all clear in the history books. That is the way true history happens and what is more important is the events that happened here and the shame that is portrayed with an uneasy feeling of fact. If you like drama and perhaps dog meat, it is very much worth checking out.
I went out and looked at this Smithsonian reference for some information about this story Newton Knight. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-free-state-jones- 180958111/?no-ist
Unlike other films based upon real characters during the Civil War like John Wayne's Dark Command (1940), this film has a very realistic dramatic feel to it. The film has a large cast but other than Newton Knight, this is a cast of little recognition, yet. Considering this film, some of the folks here could become stars later on.
The story is really a drama with few punches pulled about how terrible it was to be in Jones County, Ms during the Civil War. The shame of the real crisis that was the United States and the Confederate States comes through strongly. There was very much wrong with the country and Newton Knight was a leader who lived through it. He becomes that leader not by choice, but by circumstances.
He takes refuge in a swamp to get away from evil Confederate soldiers during the war and then after it, he has more trouble wih the Klu Klux Klan, and the Union which won the war. He is portrayed here as a very not typical Southerner, who deserts the Confederate Army and is shocked at what he finds back home when he gets there.
The reason I feel this straight drama is not for the critics is that it is told a bit long and most of them are looking for more action. This movie is more drama and story telling and it is done right. I actually feel this movie is better being long as it gets to tell the story better.
Is it totally true? At times the script takes some leaps away from fact, but the facts here are not all clear in the history books. That is the way true history happens and what is more important is the events that happened here and the shame that is portrayed with an uneasy feeling of fact. If you like drama and perhaps dog meat, it is very much worth checking out.