Some like to write stories about the good guys, others about the bad guys. In Free State of Jones, Gary Ross talks about… of those who do not choose. In this historical film, the director gives us, in the company of Matthew McConaughey, a portrait still unknown to the general public of the Civil War.
Synopsis: In the midst of a secessionist conflict, Newton Knight, a farmer from Mississippi, leads a group of farmers and slaves on the run to oppose the oppression of Confederate states. Having the advantage of the field, these rebels will found the first state of free men, putting blacks and whites on an equal footing.
If the film is overall a success, especially because of the historical angle chosen, many points must be highlighted both in the positive and the negative, because the work turns out to be relatively ambiguous.
An exciting story tarnished by a wobbly scenario
This is probably the biggest downside of this film. Although the story is exciting and carried by talented actors, it is still sometimes relatively disjointed. Thus, we can only deplore that the main plot is slow to be clear and drags on the first 20 minutes. The scenes of bloody wars in the introduction bring very little to the plot, except the opportunity to introduce us to Newt Knight and we think that it could have been done when he returned home, following his desertion.
Bad luck, the director tarnishes his introduction which would certainly have gained in dynamism and efficiency.Nevertheless, the story manages to find its cruising rhythm, even if it means offering us scenes with various emotions and tinged with a striking realism.Regarding the plot, it is particularly pleasant to discover this type of historical aside, unknown even in the United States (yet rocked by its secessionist history). However, it would have been interesting to exacerbate the duality within the ranks, especially to avoid the Manichaeism in which the film sometimes rushes. Thus, we would have liked to see the filmmaker take a little more interest in the dissensions shaking this group of rebels.This is obviously presented but too succinctly for it to be a real issue.
The leaps of several decades forward are, for their part, particularly interesting, especially in the parallels they offer us vis-à-vis the main plot, since the discriminations seem to be constantly repeated despite a so-called evolution of morals. Unfortunately these turn out to be rather anecdotal and underexploited, where they could have taken a prominent place in the historical exhibition.
The strong idea of this Free State of Jones (in addition to anti-enslavement) is that the one who sows must also be the one who harvests. Here we find the seeds of the idea so important in the United States of the free possession and exploitation of one's land.Finally, Gary Ross had the intelligence to highlight the entire post-Civil War period. Although the end of the conflict marked the end of slavery in the United States, questions of freedom were far from resolved in a few weeks. A challenge that the director reminds us, at the turn of his second part which echoes the new conflict, this time working for the equality of black / white.
Gary Ross gives us with Free State of Jones, a film of great beauty. Whether it goes through the many shots or the millimeter compositions, the image deployed by the director is of such rarity that one would easily think to contemplate a master painting.In addition, the work on the sound makes us enjoy more fully the atmosphere of Mississippi in which our heroes evolve. Finally, a beautiful work of reconstruction was carried out, both on the sets and for the outfits of the many characters.Only one downside is to be noted concerning the technique, namely some very brutal transitions concerning the editing, without however that this is too recurrent problem.
A very high-flying cast
Matthew McConaughey literally vampises the screen in his role of Newt Knight, constantly torn between extreme violence and an emphatic tone quick to reveal all its facets and contradictions. The actor seen in Interstellar or True Detective gives us indeed a beautiful interpretation, full of emotions. However, be careful not to fall into caricature in the coming years. We now know McConaughey very well in the roles of disillusioned but fundamentally good men. It will therefore be necessary for the Texan to change register or try other styles of games if he wants to progress in his art.
Little space is given to the secondary actors, the film being essentially centered on the illustrious figure portrayed by Matthew Mcconaughey. Nevertheless each actor is very good in his role and moving in the plot, the whole creating a perfect group cohesion.
Despite a construction certainly full of flaws, Free State of Jones remains a pleasant film to follow as the work carried out on it has been millimetered and pampered by the whole team. History lovers of all kinds will surely find their account in this founding epic of American history.
