Review of Free State of Jones (2016) by Ian G — 17 Sep 2016

A problematic film to say the least especially given the climate for films accurately depicting black Americans in any era and quality films involving social activism, slavery, equal rights and so forth.

The fact that is structured as yet another white man here played by Matthew Mcconahey who is a civil war medic who deserts his duty after a kid is killed in the line of duty on his watch and eventually goes into hiding in the swamps of Mississipi, and beings to act as a Robin Hood hood character of sorts for everyone, not just slaves which was one of the big factors for this period.

Another major problem seems to be the fact that they try to cram in a couple of more social issues from the the other 99%/1% battle when it comes to enlistment and such, and there is also the seemingly shoehorned 80 years later plot line with Mcconahey's decendents that are still dealing with marriage equality in the late 60's in the south that barely registers.

Given that this is a Gary Poss film who had previously directed much superior work in Pleasentville, Seabiscuit, and the first Hunger Games, this film lands with an out of step thud with the times and is extremely puzzling.