Review of Field of Lost Shoes (2015) by Chris H — 16 Feb 2015
As a film, this movie has very good production value. Costumes, sets, and props all look great. The writing is subpar. The acting is worse, with the exception of Jason Isaacs who did very well. What really bothered me about this movie was it's effort to put the Confederacy in a positive, nonracist light.
It tries to rewrite history and make the Virginia soldiers noble boys who help enslaved blacks whenever they can, and don't really like slavery. The Union is portrayed as a bunch of brutish, murderous incompetants.
The movie begins with the Governor of Virginia Henry A. Wise taking his son to a slave auction to show his boy the evils of slavery. Later the boy is berated because his father opposed secession. That's great, there's only one problem.
It isn't true. Governor Wise was a fierce advocate for secession and for his efforts he was awarded a generalship in Lee's army. That, in my mind, puts the integrity of the rest of this movie into question.
Rewriting history like that isn't creative license, it is willful revisionism to mislead viewers. This movie is a solid advertisement for the Virginia Military Institute, but poor as a historical piece.
It is Confederate propaganda 150 years after we should know better.
This review of Field of Lost Shoes (2015) was written by Chris H on 16 Feb 2015.
Field of Lost Shoes has generally received mixed reviews.
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