Free State of Jones

Set in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War, this harrowing adventure drama based on a true story examines some ugly truths about the Reconstruction era. First seen as a battlefield medic in 1862, Newton Knight (Matthew McConaughey) is a poor farmer from Jones County, MS, who becomes disillusioned when Confederate soldiers wantonly confiscate his and his neighbors' grain and livestock. So he deserts. After being chased into the swamps, Knight joins up with runaway slaves and, eventually, other white defectors to form a guerrilla army, waging skirmishes against the Confederacy and then, in 1864, proclaiming their rebel stronghold to be the Free State of Jones. But this regional insurrection leads to the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, whose hooded members re-assert white supremacy. Writer-director Gary Ross consulted with numerous noted historical scholars in order to lend authenticity to this ambitious, well-intentioned drama. Knight epitomizes messianic heroism, teaming up with noble, formerly enslaved Moses (Mahershala Ali)—who deliberately endangers his life by registering newly emancipated black voters—and courageous Rachel (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a domestic plantation slave. Unfortunately, neither Moses's nor Rachel's perspectives are evident, and the epic structure is confusing because it is intercut with a subplot involving Knight's descendant, Davis Knight (Brian Lee Franklin), who is on trial in 1945 for breaking Mississippi's law against interracial marriage. FYI: Newton eventually fathered five children with Rachel and nine more with his beleaguered wife, Serena (a woefully miscast Keri Russell), with everyone apparently happily living on his 160-acre farm. Uneven but often intriguing, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a segment on “The History of Jones County” (18 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for a flawed but interesting historical drama.] (S. Granger)