Review of Free State of Jones (2016) by Diane B — 23 Jun 2016

This is an arresting depiction of an amazing, little-known slice of American history. McConaughey is terrific as Newton Knight -- intense, charismatic and just a little bit crazy. This movie doesn't follow the cookie-cutter Hollywood arc that so many "based on a true story" movies do -- because it's actually true, and can't be wrapped up in a tidy bow.

Rather, Knight and his friends face and overcome a series of never-ending injustices; and you leave the theater feeling that you'll never think about the Civil War and Reconstruction in quite the same way.