Unveiling the Hidden Truth: Matthew McConaughey's Controversial Film Receives Expert Acclaim for Unprecedented Historical Accuracy

Summary

A battle scene in Free State of Jones is praised for its historical accuracy, with the war apparatuses and the involvement of women being portrayed accurately.

The movie faced criticism for its slow pace and unfocused storyline, which impacted its box office success. Despite the exceptional performances by the main cast, the supporting characters were underdeveloped and lacked sufficient screen time.

Garry Adelman, a Civil War historian, commends the historical accuracy of a scene from Gary Ross' Free State of Jones. The 2016 war movie featured a talented cast including Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, and Keri Russell. Inspired by the true story of Newton Knight, the film focuses on the disillusioned Confederate Army deserter who led a group of former soldiers in a rebellion against the corrupt local Confederate government in Jones County, Mississippi during and after the Civil War.

In a recent Insider video, Adelman discusses the historical authenticity of Free State of Jones, specifically highlighting the significant Battle of Ellisville where Knight's group successfully overthrew the Confederacy in Jones County. Adelman remarks that the portrayal of war machinery in the film is remarkably accurate and the inclusion of women participating in the battle is also realistic. To hear Adelman's full commentary, click on the video below and skip to 3:07 for the relevant section.

Why Was Free State Of Jones Critically Panned

This encounter in Ellesville can be better described as a skirmish rather than a full-fledged battle. It showcases a significant number of individuals in a rural county who rise up to secede from the south and rejoin the union. Concurrently, they manage to capture a county seat. In this scene, we witness instances of women joining union regiments, sometimes disguised as men, or simply entering the camp to be with their husbands, and at times even actively participating in combat as female fighters. Both sides utilized whatever resources they had available, such as using a picket fence as a makeshift barricade or an overturned wagon to provide cover from bullets. If time permitted, sandbags and earthworks were employed to strengthen defensive positions. Cannons were specifically designed to fire various types of ordnance, including solid projectiles, explosive ones that detonate upon impact, or ammunition like grape shot or canister. However, in this particular battle or skirmish depicted in the movie, they demonstrate the usage of metal rods in the cannons. When the cannon is fired, the metal rods are forcefully expelled, resulting in potentially devastating effects on both humans and animals at the demonstrated range. It remains uncertain whether they were able to successfully destroy the enemy ammunition chest, as indicated in the movie.

Ross reportedly conducted extensive research for this film, as evident from the inclusion of around a dozen historical consultants in the end credits. While the 66-year-old director's fidelity to the original events of the Civil War in Jones County, Mississippi is commendable, critics argue that the film falls short in delivering a compelling and well-paced narrative to captivate audiences during its 140-minute runtime. The box office performance reflects this, with the film grossing a meager $25 million worldwide against its $50 million production budget.

The use of its cast, particularly the supporting cast, posed another significant issue for Free State of Jones. Despite Oscar-winning actor McConaughey delivering a memorable performance as Knight, and other standout performances from Keri Russell, Mbatha-Raw, and Mahershala Ali as Serena Knight, Rachel, and Moses Washington, respectively, the remaining supporting cast did not receive enough screen time to fully develop their characters. As a result, they were not well-rounded.

Critics agree that Free State of Jones is an insightful historical film that recounts a fascinating story from American history. While it is informative, accurate, and overall worthwhile, it often feels more like a tedious documentary catering to historians rather than a cinematic experience meant to be enjoyed in theaters.

Source: Insider