Free State of Jones: Based on True Events

I can't tell you how much I have missed seeing Matthew McConaughey play a serious role.  I know most of you find him pretty to look at with his chiseled abs, but the man is actually a great actor when he isn't playing a country bumpkin.  Which is why I was stoked to see him play a rebel who took on the confederate army.

Free State of Jones is based on true events where a poor farmer from Mississippi decides he is tired of fighting a war that helps the rich and kills the poor.  He along with the help of run-away slaves from a swamp build a rebellion of white and black ciitzens who are sick and tired of being mistreated.  During this time, you had no choice but to fight for the Confederates.  The only way out was if you owned slaves, which of course poor farmers did not.  More importantly, Newton Knight didn't want to.  He and his newfound friends helped one another gain the confidence and skills to defeat the Confederate Military members who would travel from farm to farm and steal from their own citizens, just to help feed the military.  It wasn't easy as many people who joined the rebellion had to change their mindsets on the simple fact that slaves did not exist in their community.  They had to work together, fight together.  Some even tried to escape as they were promised a pardon and could return without having to fight in the war, but sadly found out it was a lie and were hung.

Our newly declared Free State of Jones citizens continued to fight.  Even after the war was over and slaves were considered illegal, the South still tried to get away with it by manipulating the laws.  Their work was far from over.  It seems liked every time they had hope such as all men being able to vote, they were only shut down with it being very difficult to do so.  The north was of no help and the KKK was growing.  More deaths occurred, more hope lost, but they persevered because they knew it was wrong and they didn't want to leave their homes in the south only for this madness to continue.  To them, they were home and would fight until they were freed from the racism and close mindedness of their surroundings.

The movie takes a creative route by showing glimpses into the future where they show Newton's son on trial for marrying a white women.  It shows just how much and how little progress had occurred in over 30 years.   He appeared to be a white male, but had part African American in him, and to the local court of law, was illegal to marry a Caucasian.  he could have taken a plea, but remembered all his father fought for those many years ago  and out of respect for his white father and black mother, went to jail.

Some may say the movie is long and I must forewarn you, it is over 2 hours, but the story line is compelling.  I think the timing is also appropriate with the recent events of violence and hate based on discrimination. It is a reminder that we are all people and have the ability to make the world great by working as one people and loving one another.  Otherwise, how far have we really come?