Review of Free in Deed (2017) by Beecee — 30 Jun 2016

I don't understand most of the low scores here. This was a riveting movie that kept me interested throughout, as it looks at Newton Knight's life as a Confederate deserter, leader of a militia that controlled a portion of Mississippi, and a civil rights supporter during Reconstruction. It then flashes forward to the miscegenation court case involving his great-grandson in 1948.

Matthew McConaughey does a terrific job as Knight, and makes us understand his transformation. Keri Russell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and the actor portraying Moses also turn in stellar performances. Yes, there is considerable graphic violence, but it does not seem gratuitous. The reconstruction part of the film is also quite difficult to watch (and somewhat long). The film is not at all sympathetic to the Confederate army, particularly the officers, since it is told from Knight's perspective.

I actually found the flash forward to 1948 to be a valuable part of the film (at times, it was a break from the Civil War/ Reconstruction action). This film has a lot of interesting things to say about race and class in America, and it should be seen by more people.